OUR COUNTRY LIFE 



make! Why could we not bring our lounging chairs 

 to this sunny nook and spread books and papers on a con- 

 venient table ? Is there any reason why a hanging book- 

 shelf would be forbidden or even a writing desk? And 

 here we would have our luncheons, with only glass sep- 

 arating us from the squirrels disporting in the snow and 

 the chickadees pecking at the balls of nuts hung against 

 the windows. What matter if the north wind blew? 

 What should we know of the frosty air? Here would 

 be perpetual summertime. 



In the heart of the deep woods, about twelve hundred 

 feet back from the shore, is a circular hollow which 

 would make an ideal summer theater. The banks slope 

 down to the center on three sides at just the proper angle 

 for about four rows of seats, and tall trees shade them 

 perfectly ; big buttonbushes outline the stage, and a shal- 

 low pool of clear water some thirty feet in diameter 

 reflects each dancing leaf. Only one serious fault might 

 be found with this sylvan glade. It is carpeted with 

 poison ivy! But to get rid of that is a mere matter of 

 persistence; and there is a certain forest grass which 



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