The Least Sandpiper 
Taken near Santa Barbara Photo by the Author 
UP TO THE EYES 
and he may guess for himself what influences have wrought to preserve 
so exquisite a thing in a world that reels with shock and countershock 
of human strife. Down upon your knees, then, or down on hands and 
knees to try if they will have you. You will suffer first, besides certain 
physical discomforts of untried muscles, you will suffer pangs of conscience, 
that your fellows, or yourself, perhaps, have ever betrayed these innocents. 
For the uneasy shiftings and incipient retreats which you see are mani¬ 
festly no part of minutilline nature, but only an aftergrowth wrought 
by centuries of gun-fire. Then, mayhap, the Killdeer, remembrancer of 
our ancient sins, though evil-minded himself, will rehearse the danger 
and urge the little waifs to flight. But they, confiding souls, though 
swept off their feet by a sudden onslaught of evil counsel, will return 
presently to the same spot, forgiving, or else loth to believe so monstrous 
an accusation. A momentary pause, and then a babel of tiny sounds 
ensues. Life in all its varied functions breaks out afresh. Toilets are 
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