308 DOWN AN UNKNOWN RIVER [chap, ix 



Hill to me ; and to Kermit the call was stronger still. 

 After nightfall we could now see the Dipper well above 

 the horizon — upside down, with the two pointers point- 

 ing to a north star below the world's rim ; but the 

 Dipper, with all its stars. In our home country spring 

 had now come, the wonderful northern spring of long, 

 glorious days, of brooding twilights, of cool delightful 

 nights. Robin and bluebird, meadow-lark and song- 

 sparrow, were singing in the mornings at home ; the 

 maple-buds were red ; windflowers and bloodroot were 

 blooming, while the last patches of snow still lingered ; 

 the rapture of the hermit- thrush in Vermont, the serene 

 golden melody of the wood-thrush on Long Island, 

 would be heard before we were there to hsten. Each 

 man to his home, and to his true love ! Each was long- 

 ing for the homely things that were so dear to him, for 

 the home people who were dearer still, and for the one 

 who was dearest of all. 



