I grasp them more vividly and strongly than ever I
did before, for I think not only how they look, but how they taste and
smell, and I even know many of the growing things by the touch of them.
It is certain that our grasp of life is in direct proportion to the
variety and warmth of the ways in which we lay hold of it. No thought no
beauty and no joy.

On these excursions I have often reflected that if I were blind, I
should still find here unexplored joys of life, and should make it a
point to know all the friendly trees and shrubs around about by the
taste or smell or touch of them. I think seriously that this method of
widening the world of the blind, and increasing their narrower joys,
might well be developed, though it would be wise for such as do take it
to borrow first the eyes of a friend to see that no poison ivy, which
certain rascally birds plant along our fences and hedges, is lurking
about.

Save for this precaution I know of nothing that will injure the taster,
though he must be prepared, here and there, for shocks and thrills of
bitterness. A lilac leaf, for example, and to a scarcely lesser degree
the willow and the poplar are, when bitten through, of a penetrating and
intense bitterness; but do no harm, and will daunt no one who is really
adventurous. There is yet to be written a botany, or, better yet, a book
of nature, for the blind.

It is by knowing human beings that we come to understand them, and by
understanding them come to love them, and so it is with the green
people. When I was a boy in the wild north country trees were enemies to
be ruthlessly fought--to be cut down, sawed, split, burned--anything to
be rid of them. The ideal in making a home place was to push the forest
as far away from it as possible. But now, when I go to the woods, it is
like going among old and treasured friends, and with riper acquaintance
the trees come to take on, curiously, a kind of personality, so that I
am much fonder of some trees than of others, and instinctively seek out
the companionship of certain trees in certain moods, as one will his
friends.

I love the unfolding beeches in spring, and the pines in winter; the
elms I care for afar off, like great aloof men, whom I can admire; but
for friendly confidences give me an apple tree in an old green meadow.

[Illustration: For friendly confidences give me an apple tree in an old
green meadow.]

In this more complete understanding I have been much aid