I^^ MaLe t^ lo^r Q^zA 



len 



tending injured birdlings, by the handling of fragile 

 infant plants, and by the acquaintance with different 

 leaf textures, which finally makes one able to distin- 

 guish a plant, even in the dark, by its Irish tweed, 

 silken or fur finish. 



And the foot, how intangibly it becomes sensi- 

 tized; how instinctively it avoids a plant even when 

 the eye is busy elsewhere. On the darkest night I 

 can traverse the rocky ravine, the thickets, the sinu- 

 ous paths through overgrown patches, and never 

 stumble, scratch myself or crush a leaf. My foot 

 knows every unevenness of each individual bit of 

 garden, and adjusts itself lovingly without conscious 

 thought of brain. 



To the ears that have learned to catch the first 

 tentative lute of a marsh frog in spring, orchestras 

 are no longer necessary. To the eyes that have 

 regained their sight, more wonder lies in the crafts- 

 manship of a tiny leaf-form of inconsequential weed, 

 than is to be found in a bombastic arras. To the 

 resuscitated nose is revealed the illimitable secrets of 

 earth incense, the whole gamut of flower perfume, 

 and other fragrant odors too intangible to be classed, 

 odors which wing the spirit to realms our bodies are 

 as yet too clumsy to inhabit. 



199 



