For it is nothing short of genius that uses one word when twenty will say the same thing! Or, would he, after all, turn out to be only a more than ordinarily alluring advertiser?
I confess my heart went into my throat that morning, when I first saw the sign, lest it read: [ RESTaurant 2 miles east ] nor should I have been surprised if it had.
I caught a vicarious glimpse of the sign-man to-day, through the eyes of a young farmer.

Yes, he s'posed he'd seen him, he said; wore a slouch hat, couldn't tell whether he was young or old.

Drove into the bushes (just down there beyond the brook) and, standin' on the seat of his buggy, nailed something to a tree.

A day or two later--the dull wonder of mankind!--the young farmer, passing that way to town, had seen the odd sign "Rest" on the tree: he s'posed the fellow put it there.
"What does it mean ?" "Well, naow, I hadn't thought," said the young farmer.
"Did the fellow by any chance have long hair ?" "Well, naow, I didn't notice," said he.
"Are you sure he wore a slouch hat ?" "Ye-es--or it may a-been straw," replied the observant young farmer.
So I tramped that morning; and as I tramped I let my mind go out warmly to the people living all about on the farms or in the hills.

It is pleasant at times to feel life, as it were, in general terms: no specific Mr.Smith or concrete Mr.Jones, but just human life.