PREFACE. 



That a club of young people could have a de- 

 lightful time rambling through the woods in search 

 of leaves, flowers, and insects, was a happy con- 

 ception. It did not take long to organize the club, 

 for the young people at Chautauqua in the summer 

 of '86 were agog for pleasure. With butterfly-net 

 and collecting-jar, trowel, microscope, and tin bas- 

 ket, the band of naturalists started forth, their 

 chubby cheeks glowing beneath big hats. 



The kindly woods sang a welcome, the doomed 

 bugs came out to greet them, and soon the children 

 were running, catching, picking, and questioning, 

 while the birds caught the spirit of their merry glee 

 and joined in the chorus. Every day's ramble 

 brought new wonders, new joys ; and the vacation 

 passed all too soon. 



