The Project Gutenberg EBook of Wilderness Ways, by William J Long

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Title: Wilderness Ways

Author: William J Long

Illustrator: Charles Copeland

Release Date: May 31, 2005 [EBook #15950]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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[Illustration: frontispiece]

WILDERNESS WAYS

BY

WILLIAM J. LONG

_SECOND SERIES_

BOSTON, U.S.A.

GINN & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS

The Athenaeum Press

1900

TO KILLOOLEET, Little Sweet-Voice,
who shares my camp and
makes sunshine as I work and play.

PREFACE.

The following sketches, like the "Ways of Wood Folk," are the
result of many years of personal observation in the woods and
fields. They are studies of animals, pure and simple, not of
animals with human motives and imaginations.

Indeed, it is hardly necessary for genuine interest to give human
traits to the beasts. Any animal is interesting enough as an
animal, and has character enough of his own, without borrowing
anything from man--as one may easily find out by watching long
enough.

Most wild creatures have but small measure of gentleness in them,
and that only by instinct and at short stated seasons. Hence I
have given both sides and both kinds, the shadows and lights, the
savagery as well as the gentleness of the wilderness creatures.

It were pleasanter, to be sure, especially when you have been
deeply touched by some exquisite bit of animal devotion, to let
it go at that, and to carry with you henceforth an ideal
creature.

But the whole truth is better--better for you, better for
children--else personality becomes confused with mere animal
individuali