cattle awake on the meadows; sheep on the hillside take
a midnight meal, and lie down to sleep again in a fresh
lair. And homeless men, who have lain down with the
fowls, open their dim eyes and behold the beauty of the
night. At what inaudible summons, by what touch of
nature, are all those sleepers thus recalled in the
same hour to life? Do the stars rain down an influence
and do we feel a thrill of mother earth below our
resting bodies? But however it comes those who sleep
afield are disturbed in their slumbers " that they may
the more better and more sensibly relish it"; they are
given a moment to look upon the stars, and they share the
secret impulse with all outdoor creatures in their neigh-
borhood.

It is an excellent thing to speak, and yet it is good
to be sometimes silent. I am often surprised that the
blind are not greater thinkers, for they dwell in a
natural seclusion and the current of their thought is
not perpetually interrupted and directed by the eyes.

To speak continually is to give too much ends to
leaching us [Skousen left space for the conclusion of this sen-
tence, which, however, was never complete]. - G.S.H.]

The journey which this little book is to narrate, was
very agreeable and fortunate. After a few rough ex-
periences, my donkey led me into a country of great
natural amenity; rural and pleasant characters, and in-
cidents trifling in themselves, but very delightful to
experience, met me continually as I went.