KXI'LANATIOM NIGHT 109 



ure's laws is tliat nothing shall stand still. Wlien a 

 tree can no longer grow, it must decay and turn into 

 earth, that some other tree nm}' grow in its place ; but 

 we should never have killed tlie wild men and beasts 

 as we did, merely to show our superior strength and for 

 the greed of killing. It is only about four hundred 

 years since white men set foot on this soil, and yet it 

 seems as if in a hundred more there may be no more 

 real two or four-footed Americans left." 



"There is the Deer Mouse again," whispered Dodo, 

 wlio was growing tired, pointing to the hearth corner. 

 The iMouse gathered up some crumbs and licked up a 

 few drops of water that had fallen on the stones, then 

 whisked away again. 



" He likes supper before he goes to bed. Please can 

 we roast some chestnuts. Uncle Roy?" 



Every one laughed ; no more reasons why were asked, 

 and Explanation Night ended merrily to the sound of 

 chestnuts snapping vigorously in a wire corn-popper 

 that the children took turns in shaking over the hot 

 coals. 



