The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-03-16

A SUMMER DAY IN MOSS GROWN
WOODS SY A EAeSLlNG BROOK.

Thought, Suggested ,y AN Afternoon i,
Midsummer spent in the shade of Grow,
ing Trees ON a Couch of Natures Down
Tireless Nature Never Rests.
1t is IA warm day in midsummer. and /:
fisherman Is following along a trout
brook. The stream runs through the for
est-throngh hardwood groves. which
owing to their seant underhrusll. look NJ.
most like English parks: through mossy
evergreen glades, where every sound and
color is snbdued: through rocky ravines,
down which the water hurries with fret.
full plants against the powders in it.
path. till at last il fnds All outlet in n
mountain lake.
To-Day it is evident that all the wood
life is prepared to he lazy-even the
trout that are won't to rush SO eagerly
at worm or fly. Now the fisherman Le-
gins to feel the influence of this all per-
vading inertia. and finally he lays down
his pole and stretches himself ont on the
brooks bank. Close to his side is a
sound of ripping water. cool and sooth-
ing, while the ,prealinG top of q maple
keeps off the sun.
The bank hure is covered with thick
moss-a pleasan couch waiting for some
one to come and use it. In the economy
ofSthe woods nothing is permitted to
exist for it-alf only; the saplings have
their W life. but must also furnish
leaves and twigs to the deer, and bark
to the nibbling hares. No plant or ami
NAL is entirely selfish, and So this hum
bic moss. since it can 20 little else. is
ready to serve as a resting place for the
weary.
There is an old saying that goes. "Best
ease is free ease"-or the ease bought
with o much labor Of preparation is
hardly worth having. and this thought.
though it may not be very profound.
suggests one great delight of the woods.
everything is free-is natural. No one
but ~tireless nature has labored. No ewes
have ached. no back has become bent, in
the making of this couch Of moss: no
hands have toiled to rear the grateful
shade Of the maple. The refreshing
splash and ripple of the brook is freely.
nnconsciously given.
The volnptnaries of the east We're close
students of the art OF idleness. Lounp-
ing on their cushions. they listened to
soft music and watched the movements
of dancing slaves. Other Slaves waved
cooling fans. and. if tke:. masters were
exposed to the sun. held silken canopies
above them. The eastern prince thought
that the pleasures of idleness could he
no further perfected.
R1,f tho 1,,cac. ,,,,,% e.
weary: the slaves holding the c%anopies
in the sun; the fan bearers and
the musicians doubtless wondered at the
unjust fate which condemned them to
labor III order that others might enjoy.
Indian rajah or Persian lord ever
upon an easier couch than this
one on which the fisherman stretches !
The brook makes the most de-
llghtful of music. Sunbeams dancing
leaf and moss and ripples are as
to watch as the movement of
slaves.
NOR do the sights and sounds Of the
woods lack variety. The music of the
is mingled with the twitter Of
crest birds-thrushes and wood spar
'ows: the songful enthusiasm of their
annual youth is past, but the midsum.
ner notes are full of happiness. and tell
# nests well stocked with little ones.
squirrels chirp and chatter. The dead
caves strewing the ground are of every
hade of brown and red and yellow, and
he slender shafts of sunlight, which dart
lown through the breeze stirred foliage
'verhead, never fall twice upon colors
hat are exactly similar.
The trout fisherman, half dreamy,
lalf observant, and wholly happy, has
ain there till the long, warm summer
'fternOon is drawing to a close. The shy
title wood creatures that love the dusk
ome out of their hiding places and run
'ear him, quite fearless OF his motionless
igure. Delicate, mouselike creatures
re here, the flying squirrels, in soN
ray draperies. A mink trots over the
ret powders in the brooks bed, and,
onscious Of its own importance, eyes
he man suspiciously.
Darkness is coming on, and it is time
or the trout fisherman to go home. He
caves the NOISY bank regretfully. halt
ersuaded that idleness, and not work,
|. mans chief blessing.-Francis s.
'Almer in Christian Union.