Excerpt from Pebbles and Shells: Verses In accordance with the above adjuration, so captivating to those to whom the apostrophe is addressed the almoner who subscribes himself herewith, at once Opens out this new and effervescing volume of poems for their perusal, bespeaking from the world of letters a sympathetic ear, and consonance with its song: for, The Book of Nature is ever full of ecstasy and beauty. Lts leaves turn toward the sun. Lts music is colean. Lts fountains are pellucid and inexhaustible. From its sources we have to draw and drink refreshingly. Perchance some of those who read these stanzas - some of those who have trod the sylvan paths which Thoreau so much loved, and which Longfellow never tired of describing with his pen. May be persuaded to link arms with the blind author, and so all saunter on together? It has been well said that there are but few great Nature lovers; that is strictly speaking, whose souls are in attune with the Creator's: but there have been a sufficient few to stamp their personality on the regions which they have animated. Thoreau's country, simple as it is, plain in its features, rough in its contour sometimes, is lovable because Thoreau has been there. We love the sods and the brown leaves which his feet have pressed. The wildwood precincts are hallowed by his memories. Men die, voices fail, and sentiment decays. Catbirds which are melodious in june squawk in August. Nevertheless, we love them all, birds and human kind, for what they were, and for what they have made their little spots of earth; and so, when the Hadley poet sings, we love him too. A quiet bit of country under an observant eye can be made to yield a store of happiness. Dudley Warner wheeled his settee around the garden-oak, to follow the sunshine or the shade, until he wore a path in the grass. N. P. Willis wrote winsome letters from under a bridge. And now, herewith, a vista Opens before us down the forest lane. Methinks I hear the muffled drum beat of a partridge in the spruce. Listen! We feel already an impulse to proceed. Come with the poet! He will not sing in vain. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.