The Defence of Idleness. 225 



tember sunshine, have learned something without 

 an efTort. After all, fruit does not grow that you 

 may be filled. The fruit is but your prey, and the 

 insect has as good cause to hate you as have you 

 to be enraged when it gets the upper hand. Might 

 makes right, in spite of the preacher ; and I do 

 not blame a wasp for stinging me when I disturb 

 him at his feast. His is the rosy cheek of the 

 apple, mine the yellow ; and why not keep within 

 bounds? Here is not an idle thought, but one 

 bred in idleness ; it is only the victim of his own 

 unreasonableness that is deaf to reason. We are 

 beyond the orchard, and a new field, and ever an 

 attractive one, lies before us. What can be better 

 than the wilds of an unkempt meadow? Have 

 but one care as you cross the threshold : avoid 

 haste. Not a step can be taken that does not pass 

 by more than a lifetime can wholly comprehend. 

 Remember, it is September, and summer's day is 

 over before the month goes by. Long ago as 

 June we found the firstlings of every flock full of 

 interest, but what of the lastlings ? Nature is 

 never an old story. We think the glory of June 

 has faded before the close of summer, but Nature 



