FOREWORD--ON TAKING ONE'S DESSERT FIRST ix
I. A PLACID RUNAWAY 3
II. AN UNPROGRESSIVE FARM 14
III. A DESULTORY PILGRIMAGE 25
IV. THE YELLOW VALLEY 38
V. LARKSPURS AND HOLLYHOCKS 49
VI. THE FARM SUNDAY 68
VII. THE GROOMING OF THE FARM 87
VIII. "ESCAPED FROM OLD GARDENS" 107
IX. THE COUNTRY ROAD 114
X. THE LURE OF THE BERRY 131
XI. IN THE RAIN 139
XII. AS THE BEE FLIES 155
XIII. A DAWN EXPERIMENT 171
XIV. IN THE WAKE OF THE PARTRIDGE 183
XV. BEYOND THE REALM OF WEATHER 199
XVI. COMFORTABLE BOOKS 214
XVII. IN THE FIRELIGHT 222
The papers in this volume first appeared in the _Outlook_,
the _Atlantic_, and _Scribner's_. The author wishes to
express to the editors of these magazines her appreciation
of their courtesy in permitting the republication of the
papers.