HIS is but a small sheaf among many others; for, as the floor of the woods. is covered with fallen leaves and pieces of detached bark, so the little woodland of my thoughts is strewn over with these rough fragments and memories.

Yet the old homestead still stands as I have written it. There is no latchstring. It is always open to receive us. I wish I could say that I have in this book made some distinct contribution of my own to the appreciation and enjoyment of the beauty of life. But it has at least expressed my trying, and the intent perforce must be taken for the deed.

We can not all realize in our individual experiences the life-thoughts of many diverse minds. We can have but one attitude toward the world. I should feel, then, at least repaid, if these pages, written at odd moments among the fields and in the woods and before the open fireplace, and again beside the waters of remembrance, could join some other pilgrim with myself, at this wayside shrine, in the worship of what we shall call Nature, the beautiful, and the things of the spirit.

THE BARNYARD GATE.

BEVIS, OHIO,

PREFACE

August, 1906.

PAUL GRISWOLD HUSTON.

NOTE

NEARLY all of the illustrations are from amateur photographs taken expressly for this book by Mr. George N. Jennings, Mr. James W. Young, and the author, but of these Mr. Jennings has contributed by far the greatest number. I am indebted, however, to Mr. Alexander Thomson for the picture entitled "Man's Best Friend," to Mr. Lee Harris Huston for "The Squirrel Hunter,” and to Mr. Ernest Harold Baynes for "The Gray Squirrel." Of professional photographers, Mr. Paul Fleur has given his assistance with the frontispiece, "Old Spot and Her Owner," and "A Country Lane," and Mr. A. E. Rosebaum with "The Old Fireplace." The illustrations are believed to reproduce faithfully many of the typical scenes and occupations around the old homestead.