14 NEW HAMPSHIRE 



cows rarely or never suffer from that most dis- 

 tressing ailment. I have seen chewers of gum. 

 before now who, by all signs, should have enjoyed 

 a similar immunity. 



While the heifers are still making up their 

 minds about their unexpected visitor, I turn to 

 examine a couple of white-crowned sparrows, 

 male and female, — I wonder if they really are 

 a couple? — feeding before the house. I hope 

 the species is to prove common here. Three 

 birds were behind the hotel before breakfast, 

 and one of them sang. The quaint little medley, 

 sparrow song and warbler song together, is stiU 

 something of an event with me, I have heard it 

 so seldom and hke it so well ; and whether the 

 birds sing or not, they are musical to look at. 



When I approach the painted house, on my 

 way homeward, the fat old collie comes running 

 out again, barking. This time, however, he 

 takes but one sniff. He has made a mistake, 

 and realizes it at once. " Oh, excuse me," he 

 says quite plainly. "I didn't recognize you. 

 You 're the same old codger. I ought to have 

 known." And he is so confused and ashamed 

 that he hurries away without waiting to make 

 up. 



It is a great mortification to a gentlemanly 

 dog to find himself at fault in this manner. I 



