Preface. 



Whenever opportunity occurs I take an 

 outing, and the following pages are the outcome 

 of two years of rambling. Whether the main 

 incident of these days out of doors proves grave 

 or gay matters little, if it recalls some pleasant 

 adventure to graybeard readers or spurs the 

 ambition of my youthful friends. Succeeding in 

 this, I am well rewarded. 



When out, on pleasure bent, it is not to be sup- 

 posed that life's shady side will never be turned 

 towards you. Happily, though, the tragedies are 

 one-act, as a rule, while the comedies scarcely 

 know an ending. Even sunshine, however, can 

 be too continuous, and the longest day of summer 



