The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-26

through the year save In the coolest
months. There he eats, sleeps and
writes, and the solitude of the spot and
the primitive living agree with him men
tally and physically. He is In the midst
of the woods The rocks and the ridges
hem him In and shut out all sight and all
sounds of the modern world of railroads,
steamers and business hurly-burly The
softened roar of a waterfall steals to the
ears from some distant ravine, the wind
whispers In the LEAKAGE of the near trees,
birds sing and twitter through the sum-
mer days, and at night the whippoorwi1
calls from the neighboring rocks. In the
spring the evenings are musical with the
voices of the frogs and toads, and in the
autumn the katydids make the air reson-
ant with their disputing crows and hawks
fly over the cabin and an occasional eagle
hovers about the mountain top. Partridges
come to the borders of the clearing and
wild ducks frequent the creek in the hoi-
low a half mile away.
Nature and it's untamed progeny are
close about always. Yet the cabin sur
roundings are not wholly uncivilized, for
since the swamp has been drained Mr..
Burroughs has made a garden of its rich
mould and there he raises famous celery,
cabbages, potatoes, sweet corn and other
vegetables.
Mr. Burroughs as a ROuSekeepers
Whoever comes to visit this latter-day
hermit, whether friend or stranger, is sure
of a hopsitable reception. If mealtlme ap-
proaches you are invited to stay to lunch.
The Iarder is never empty and Mr.. Bur
roughs is an expert in the preparation OF
a rustic dinner Not far away cold
spring bubbles from the rocks and there,
half Immersed in its crystal basin, are GER
tain tin pals containing fresh meats, milk,
etc In the kitchen cupboard are canned
goods. prepared foods, honey and other
eata bles Then there is the garden al
WAYS at hand to draw from, and In
near nook is a henhouse, ana the nock
that makes the clearing it's home furn-
ishes the cabin table with eggs.
do not think Mr.. Burroughs loves
housekeeping for its own sake, but he &C
cepts the work for the pleasure of the ac-
companying freedom. Not much time as
spent on cooking, dish-washing, bed-mak-
ing and the like-only just enough to make
the place presentable and keep 1t IN d
state of free and easy whoaesomeness. The
day as a whole is for farming, writing ana
meditation.
A Days Work with the Author.
The first duty after the breakfast things
are out of the way Is to tramp Down
tbrc,,eh the woods to the village in the
valley to get lne AudlAs AT tAAS S~-'-N
Mr. Burroughs visits Riverby and gives
directions for the days work on the farm.
IF IT is at the time of the grape harvest
or IL there are other important tasks IN
nroeress he may stay all day TO help ana
superintend, but as a rule ne soon re-
turns TO his beloved Slabsides.
The rest of the morning ne spends IN
rea ding. writing and thinking, with some
interruptions in the way of the necessary
walks through the woods or walks IN MS
celery swamp or perhaps makes sec
ond visit to Riverby
I5.a always returns from the loWlands 10
hid cottage among the rocks with sense
~ relief He is glad to get away from
all connection with what smacks OF hurry
and business. To quote his own words,
he has IAN unfailng satisfaction In the
simpler, ruder things of life, and as soon
&C 7 step within the walls Of Slabsides
nv cares slip away from me and L feel
as if l had escaped from something that
harrassed me-"
Nor can the visitor with heaithful IN
stiucts help sharing this feeling to some
extent You come under the spell and
think YOU. too, would like to- build
Subsidies in some quiet forest dell But,
after all. the life would probably not fit
another as it does John Burroughs. He
Is one of natures children, and he finds
haDpiness in being alone with nature that
is granted to very few.
Clifton Johnson.