OUR COUNTRY LIFE 



The bewitching blossoms of the cotton grass sway in 

 fleecy waves above the showy lady's slippers; stoop- 

 ing to gather these, the greenish white flowers of the 

 poison ivy warn one to beware, danger is near. Pro- 

 tected by tall rushes, the winged moccasin flower 

 thrives and the yellow lady's-slipper and that spike of 

 fragrant creamy petals known as the grass orchid in 

 common parlance, but to the scientific mind as 

 Spiranthes Romanzoffiana! Sometimes I wonder if 

 scientists who label have any sense of humor. By this 

 time my enthusiasm for gathering is abating and my 

 arms are growing weary with the burden, yet the fields 

 of bloom show no decrease. Many flowers of the marsh 

 droop and wither when brought into a house; but these 

 orchids if provided with fresh water and fresh air will 

 keep their beauty for nearly two weeks. 



It is a long day and a hard one, this day at the tama- 

 rack swamp, for seven miles in a hayrack is a very 

 lengthy proceeding, particularly when returning at 

 night. But think of the reward! We are so con- 

 stituted as to prize most what we work the hardest to 



238 



