Chapter I: Introduction: xi

I. THE CLOCK STRIKES ONE 1
II. ALONG THE HIGHWAY OF THE FOX 9
III. IN THE TOADFISH’S SHOE 21
IV. A CHAPTER OF THINGS TO SEE THIS FALL 29
V. WHIPPED BY EAGLES 36
VI. THANKSGIVING AT GRANDFATHER’S FARM 46
VII. A CHAPTER OF THINGS TO DO THIS FALL 52
VIII. THE MUSKRATS ARE BUILDING 61
IX. THE NORTH WIND DOTH BLOW 67
X. AN OUTDOOR LESSON 76
XI. LEAFING 80
XII. A CHAPTER OF THINGS TO HEAR THIS FALL 88
XIII. HONK, HONK, HONK! 96
NOTES AND SUGGESTIONS 105

ILLUSTRATIONS

“ONE OF THE EAGLES STRUCK ME A STINGING BLOW
ON THE HEAD” _Frontispiece_
THE FALL OF THE YEAR 1
INITIAL, CHAPTER I 1
INITIAL, CHAPTER II 9
“OVER THE HILL IN A WHIRLWIND OF DUST AND HOWLS” 18
INITIAL, CHAPTER III 21
“HERE I FOUND HIM KEEPING HOUSE” 24
INITIAL, CHAPTER IV 29
A SILKY SKEIN OF COBWEB 30
“A WILD CREATURE, THAT WON’T GET OUT OF YOUR WAY” 32
THE PYXIE 32
THE FIELD OF CORN IN THE SHOCK 33
THE WINGED, AND PLUMED, AND BALLOONED SEEDS 34, 35
INITIAL, CHAPTER V 36
INITIAL, CHAPTER VI 46
“THE LANTERN FLICKERS, THE MILK FOAMS, THE STORIES FLOW” 48
INITIAL, CHAPTER VII 52
A COON 54
QUAILS 55
SHAGBARKS 56
WILD SEA FOWL 57
BLACK HAWTHORN BERRIES 58
INITIAL, CHAPTER VIII 61
“TO-NIGHT THERE IS NO LOAFING ABOUT THE LODGE” 62
TAILPIECE 66
INITIAL, CHAPTER IX 67
A WHITEFOOT 68
A CHIPMUNK 70
A WOODCHUCK 72
FIVE DAYS OF LIFE AND PLENTY FOR THE BIRDS 74
INITIAL, CHAPTER X 76
INITIAL, CHAPTER XI 80
“BUT COME, BOYS, GET AFTER THOSE BAGS!” 84
INITIAL, CHAPTER XII 88
A LOON 89
WHEN NIGHT COMES 90
A BLUE JAY 91
A RED SQUIRREL 92
A KINGLET 93
INITIAL, CHAPTER XIII 96
WILD GEESE 102
TAILPIECE 103

NOTE

It is interesting to observe that the subject of the initial for chapter IV is witch-hazel; that for chapter VII, the cocoons of the cecropia, the promethea, and the basket worm; and that for chapter VIII, a sprig of alder, with the old fruit and a budded catkin. The subjects of the other initials require no identification.