The Lay of He Band 
in the woods. He was expecting me, so he came 
early, out of modesty, and, that I too might be en- 
tirely at my ease, he departed early, leaving his greet- 
ings for me in the snow. 
Thus I was not alone ; here was good company and 
plenty of it. I never lack a companion in the woods 
when I can pick up a trail. The ’possum and I ate 
together. And this was just the fellowship I needed, 
this sharing the persimmons with the ’possum. I had 
broken bread, not with the possum only, but with all 
the out-of-doors. I was now fit to enter the woods, 
for I was filled with good-will and persimmons, as 
full as the ’possum; and putting myself under his 
gentle guidance, I got down upon the ground, took 
up his clumsy trail, and descended toward the swamp. 
Such an entry is one of the particular joys of the 
winter. To go in with a fox, a mink, or a ‘possum 
through the door of the woods is to find yourself at 
home. Any one can get inside the out-of-doors, as the 
grocery boy or the census man gets inside our houses. 
You can bolt in at any time on business. A trail, 
however, is Nature’s invitation. There may be other, 
better beaten paths for mere feet. But go softly with 
the ’possum, and at the threshold you are met by the 
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