She Mature- Student 
his garden for his recreation; and then (I don’t care 
by what prompting) let him study the lay of his neigh- 
bor fields, woods, and orchards until he knows every 
bird and beast, every tree-hole, earth-hole, even the 
times and places of the things that grow in the 
ground; let him do this through the seasons of the 
year, —for two or three years, — and he will know 
how to enjoy a woodchuck; he will understand many 
of the family affairs of his chipmunks; he will re- 
cognize and welcome back his bluebirds ; he will love 
and often listen to the solemn talk of his pines. 
All of this may be petty prying, not communion 
at all; it may be all moonshine and sentiment, not 
science. But it is not cant and self-deception, — in 
the hearts of thousands of simple, sufficient folk, 
who know a wood thrush when they hear him, and 
whose woodpaths are of their own wearing. And if 
it is not communion with nature, I know that it is 
at least real pleasure, and rest, peace, contentment, 
red blood, sound sleep, and, at times, it seems to me, 
something close akin to religion. 
