the Oiit-of- Doors. The gate is wide and the way 

 is broad. The difficulty is that most persons go 

 in too fast. 



If I were asked what virtue, above all others, 

 one must possess in order to be shown the mys- 

 teries of the kingdom of earth and sky, I should 

 say, there are several ; I should not know 

 which to name first. There are, however, two 

 virtues very essential and very hard to acquire, 

 namely, the ability to keep quiet and to stand still. 



Last summer a fox in two days took fifteen of 

 my chickens. I saw the rascal in broad day 

 come down the hill to the chicken-yard. I 

 greatly enjoy the sight of a wild fox ; but fifteen 

 chickens a sight was too high a price. So I got 

 the gun and chased about the woods half the 

 summer for another glimpse of the sinner's red 

 hide. I saw him one Sunday as we were driving 

 into the wood road from church ; but never a 

 week-day sight for all my chasing. 



Along in the early autumn I got home one 

 evening shortly after sundown. I had left sev- 

 eral cocks of hay spread out in the little meadow, 

 and though it was already pretty damp, I took 

 the fork, went down, and cocked it up. 

 [36] 



