254 BIRD PARADISE 



all things about him. Then when he chooses 

 he can wake from sleep and take up the duties 

 of his narrow life again. At times I more than 

 half conjecture he is far from pleased with the 

 path he is treading in the journey of time. The 

 trappers make his way a thorny one, and every 

 winter hundreds pay the penalty of wearing a 

 coat that is of large value in the marts of human 

 trade. In Oklahoma we had a species of the 

 skunk family not much larger than the common 

 brown rat. They had all the characteristics of 

 the larger species except size, and frequently 

 dwelt under the same roof with the human 

 brother. 



How the brooks rejoice in a real January thaw. 

 Of course they are attractive even when chilled 

 with the frost and cold. Their light is rarely 

 ever so shadowed by the bushel that its beauties 

 are completely hidden. But when zephyrs from 

 the South play with the snow, setting the white 

 crystals to dancing with an almost forgotten 

 warmth, then the rippling laughter of innumer- 

 able rills is heard everywhere. Down through 

 the fields they flow, wandering with a sort of jolly 

 freedom that is most exhilarating. I stood by the 



