This friend was one of those rare beings who are equally at home in nature and with man.

He knew a tale of all that ran and swam and flew, or only grew, possessing that extensive familiarity with things which shows equal sweetness of sympathy and playful penetration.

Most refreshing to me was his unstudied lore, the unwritten poetry which common life presents to a strong and gentle mind.

It was a great contrast to the subtilties of analysis, the philosophic strainings of which I had seen too much.

But I will not attempt to transplant it.