f forestry."

There! the truth was out, and my feelings were divided between relief
and fear. Before father could reply I launched into a set speech upon
forestry, and talked till I was out of breath.

"There's something in what you say," replied my father. "You've been
reading up on the subject?"

"Everything I could get, and I've been trying to apply my knowledge
in the woods. I love the trees. I'd love an outdoor life. But forestry
won't be any picnic. A ranger must be able to ride and pack, make trail
and camp, live alone in the woods, fight fire and wild beasts. Oh! It'd
be great!"

"I dare say," said father, dryly; "particularly the riding and shooting.
Well, I guess you'll make a good-enough doctor to suit me."

"Give me a square deal," I cried, jumping up. "Mayn't I have one word to
say about my future? Wouldn't you rather have me happy and successful as
a forester, even if there is danger, than just an ordinary, poor doctor?
Let's go over our woodland. I'll prove that you are letting your forest
run down. You've got sixty acres of hard woods that ought to be bringing
a regular income. If I can't prove it, if I can't interest you, I'll
agree to study medicine. But if I do you're to let me try forestry."

"Well, Kenneth, that's a fair proposition," returned father, evidently
surprised at my earnestness "Come on. We'll go up in the woods. Hal, I
suppose he's won you over?"

"Ken's got a big thing in mind," replied Hal, loyally "It's just
splendid."

I never saw the long, black-fringed line of trees without joy in the
possession of them and a desire to be among them. The sixty acres of
timber land covered the whole of a swampy valley, spread over a rolling
hill sloping down to the glistening river.

"Now, son? go ahead," said my father, as we clambered over a rail fence
and stepped into the edge of shade..

"Well, father--" I began, haltingly, and could not collect my thoughts.
Then we were in the cool woods. It was very still, there being only a
faint rustling of leaves and the mellow note of a hermit-thrush. The
deep shadows were lightened by shafts of sunshine which, here and there,
managed to pierce the canopy of foliage. Somehow, the feeling roused by
these things loosened my tongue.

"This is an old hard-wood forest," I began. "Much of the white oak,
hickory, ash, maple, is virgin timber. These trees have reached
maturity; many are dead at the tops; all of them should have been cut
long ago. The