J^TLT. 173 



one was pink with pale erigeron, golden with buttercups, 

 purple with flags, and afar off a tardy cockspur thorn 

 recalled the memorable snow-drifts of March, so dense 

 and purely white were its clustered blossoms. Above all, 

 towered a splendid shellbark hickory, and here I sat down. 

 Inquisitive sparrows quickly found me out, and I had 

 company from that moment. Other birds came ; then a 

 snake, and finally a waddling tortoise. To all appearance 

 I was certainly in luck, and yet, strange to say, I soon 

 wearied of my friends, and, not only this, but ere long fell 

 asleep. For a considerable time, leaning against the shell- 

 bark's shaggy trunk, I slept soundly, and was roused by 

 the rattling thrill of the loose ribbons of bark that hang 

 from these trees when fully grown. One df these curled 

 strips was still trembling, almost in contact with my ear, 

 as I opened my eyes. I saw no cause for this, and just as 

 I raised my hand to rub my filmy eyes, a little bird, with 

 a shrill chirp, flew from my side. 



As is so seldom the case, I had my wits about me at 

 the right moment, and, trusting for a solution of the 

 matter, remained perfectly still. Presently a faint rat- 

 tling was heard that quickly became louder, and a black 

 and white tree-creeping warbler came around the tree 

 just in a line with my face. It came so near me that I 

 could not see it, for I dared not move a muscle, and then 

 halted, as though not quite satisfied that I was a part of 

 the tree. I waited for perhaps a minute and then heard 

 the bird move from me when I ventured to turn my face 

 toward it. Our eyes met, or at least I saw its plainly, and 

 with a frightened chirp it darted away. 



I shall never know but always shall believe that this 

 bird once ran directly over me. I can give no reason, 

 save the paltry one that I thought I could feel the tingle 

 of its claws across my face. 



I am not, on second thought, disposed to stamp this 



