Interpretations 



the average mortal. Philosopliers are few and 

 far between. We can look at them as we do 

 mountains in the distance. They fill a place in 

 our outlook but we need not mope because they 

 are inaccessible. Be king in the kingdom of 

 your own mind, and not attempting the impos- 

 sible, happiness is assured. 



I looked upon the crow and the wren as my 

 friends, but they looked on me as an enemy. 

 To disabuse them of a wrong impression was 

 not possible, so I was at every disadvantage. I 

 hailed them as comrades and they shouted 

 back, "You lie!" A nice condition of affairs, 

 truly, but what was I to do? Go home and 

 mope ? No ; I will at least ' ' make believe ' ' they 

 are friendly and have as good a time as pos- 

 sible. Go in that spirit and a pleasant and 

 profitable outing is assured. 



Crows represent the more serious aspects of 

 Nature; the wren stands for Nature when she 

 relapses and mirth is uppermost. The misfor- 

 tune of the crow is that it is common. If sel- 

 dom in evidence every quality would shine with 

 unwonted lustre ; indeed, if we followed the lit- 

 erary naturalist, every crow would be a raven 

 and the commonplace caw be an ominous croak. 



127 



