214 UNDER THE OPEN SKY 



simply do not know how to take it. It is 

 our one summer nut. It should lie out 

 under its own tree over winter, and next 

 summer, for some strange reason, it will not 

 have sprouted. Then is the time to eat it. 

 It is the very ambrosia of wild foods. 



A LITTLE SOJOURNER 

 THE WOOD PEWEE 



Already we have missed the great ma- 

 jority of our bird friends, and soon we must 

 part from most of the rest. There, sitting 

 on that projecting dead twig, is one of the 

 daintiest of them. He should have been 

 away before this — probably will be by to- 

 morrow. Hear his " pee-ee-wee-e " down 

 and up, as if to say "I'm he-re." Most 

 birds neglect their music as soon as they 

 are married. Many others will not consent 

 to sing during the heat of the day. But the 

 wood pewee keeps up his modest, reassur- 

 ing note all day and all summer. His as- 

 pect is that of a courtly old gentleman who 

 is striving on slender means to keep up 

 appearances. His suit, apparently black, 



