behind. All at once he caught sight of me, and, touching the animal's
neck, swept gracefully round in narrowing circles, each circle bringing
him nearer, until he came to a stand at my side; then his horse began
rubbing his nose on my hand, its breath feeling like fire on my skin.

"Smith," said he, with a grave smile, "if you cannot be happy unless you
are laboring in the forest with your ax you must proceed with your
wood-cutting; but I confess it surprises me as much to see you going to
work on a day like this, as it would to see you walking inverted on your
hands, and dangling your heels in the air."

"Why?" said I, surprised at this speech.

"If you do not know I must tell you. At night we sleep; in the morning
we bathe; we eat when we are hungry, converse when we feel inclined, and
on most days labor a certain number of hours. But more than these
things, which have a certain amount of pleasure in them, are the
precious moments when nature reveals herself to us in all her beauty. We
give ourselves wholly to her then, and she refreshes us; the splendor
fades, but the wealth it brings to the soul remains to gladden us. That
must be a dull spirit that cannot suspend its toil when the sun is
setting in glory, or the violet rainbow appears on the cloud. Every day
brings us special moments to gladden us, just as we have in the house
every day our time of melody and recreation. But this supreme and more
enduring glory of nature comes only once every year; and while it lasts,
all labor, except that which is pressing and necessary, is unseemly, and
an offense to the Father of the world." He paused, but I did not know
what to say in reply, and presently he resumed: "My son, there are
horses waiting for you, and unless you are more unlike us in mind than I
ever imagined, you will now take one and ride to the hills, where, owing