OUR FAVORITE JAUNTS 



But within its silent aisles the stillness is oppressive; 

 only the song sparrow refuses to be downcast or even 

 frightened by the sinister hiss of the tiny snake; the 

 frogs, too, form a cheery company, and the profusion 

 of flowers surrounding the forest does its best to enliven 

 the somberness. This tract of marsh land is a paradise 

 to the courageous nature-lover: in its deep retreats, 

 protected from wind and sun, the cinnamon fern, the 

 royal fern, and the sensitive fern flourish with a 

 prodigality and lavishness undreamed of by the out- 

 side world. 



These, then, are the objects of our pilgrimage, here 

 is our June rendezvous, but not by the motor car! 

 Preferably on a dark, even a rainy, day — what differ- 

 ence does a little more water make? — with the flattest, 

 broadest hayrack we can borrow, and two strong horses, 

 we sally forth dressed as for wading; for wading it 

 will be, either in treacherous mud or holes of water or 

 grassy pools. This is no woman's undertaking, this is 

 a man's job; but if she is willing to prepare herself 

 properly she may be allowed to join the party, to share 



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