THROUGH LIBRARY WINDOWS 173 



Ruth proposed a vacation from all literary- 

 work out in orchard and garden for mutual 

 rest. The weather conditions were perfect, the 

 atmosphere a genuine tonic, the sunshine perva- 

 sive and enlivening, nature in her best recipient 

 and imparting moods. She took some work 

 with her, and I, in passing the study table, 

 seized two of the latest magazines and a new 

 unread book; magazines and books and work 

 useless for they were not thought of all day. 

 What a luxury that hammock ride, that unread 

 literature within touch untouched, those fine 

 old fruitful apple and chery trees, this woodsy 

 aroma imparted to the atmosphere by the old 

 orchard so pleasant and precious ; the far away 

 sky with its fleecy clouds leisurely floating in 

 the azure as if they had nothing to do; the 

 rippling of Arno over its miniature rapids so 

 cool and soothing ; the chirping of the birds all 

 about us eyeing us and wondering why so quiet 

 and unoccupied; bees busily industrious gather- 

 ing honey, buzzed about scolding us for idling 

 the day; the factory bell tolling out the slowly 

 passing hours in listless spirit — sleeping, look- 

 ing, talking, enjoying, idling and resting! 

 While the day was passing, gentlest of zephyrs 

 were occasionally talking to and toying with the 

 leaves and creating a good deal of sweet merri- 



