42 WITH EARTH AND SKY 
ears were being tweaked by the wind and did 
not resent the familiarity; and sometimes there 
was a dirty stream and betimes dirty boys with 
primitive fishing tackle and primitive delight— 
and I was whipped past before the cork bobbed! 
I will pull this rope and stop this tram! I 
cannot let all the fun escape in consideration for 
being thrown bodily from the train by the con- 
ductor. And, come to think of it, he could not 
do it. I am here, myself. The conductor is 
baldheaded. Shall a baldheaded man eject me? 
Nay, verily. But he can get the brakesman to 
help him and the porter beside; and my ticket 
is paid for and only good for this train. I would 
not mind being put off if it took three men to 
do it and be put off in the midst of this June 
greenery and blossoming, but cannot afford to 
lose my ticket. I will not pull the cord now. 
Thus ever do our petty economies rob life of 
its freedom and spontaneity. I am born too late. 
The pocketbook controls me and derides me. 
I am the serf of the nickel. Unafraid am I of 
porter and brakesman and conductor. Three 
men might put me off, but the fracas would be 
interesting and I would be no spectator. Yes, 
I have a mind to pull the bell rope and invite 
the scrap. But the nickel subdues me. I must 
not have this ticket canceled. And so I do not 
see the cork bob. This is at once the irony and 
