ump,strikingherheadagainstthefloortimbersinherhurry.TheyusedtocomeroundmydooratdusktonibblethepotatoparingswhichIhadthrownout,andweresonearlythecolorofthegroundthattheycouldhardlybedistinguishedwhenstill.SometimesinthetwilightIalternatelylostandrecoveredsightofonesittingmotionlessundermywindow.WhenIopenedmydoorintheevening,offtheywouldgowithasqueakandabounce.Nearathandtheyonlyexcitedmypity.Oneeveningonesatbymydoortwopacesfromme,atfirsttremblingwithfear,yetunwillingtomoveapoorweething,leanandbony,withraggedearsandsharpnose,scanttailandslenderpaws.ItlookedasifNaturenolongercontainedthebreedofnoblerbloods,butstoodonherlasttoes.Itslargeeyesappearedyoungandunhealthy,almostdropsical.Itookastep,andlo,awayitscudwithanelasticspringoverthesnowcrust,straighteningitsbodyanditslimbsintogracefullength,andsoonputtheforestbetweenmeanditself,—thewildfreevenison,assertingitsvigorandthedignityofNature.Notwithoutreasonwasitsslenderness.Suchthenwasitsnature.(Lepus,levipes,light-foot,somethink.)
Whatisacountrywithoutrabbitsandpartridges?TheyareamongthemostsimpleandindigenousanimalproductsancientandvenerablefamiliesknowntoantiquityastomoderntimesoftheveryhueandsubstanceofNature,nearestalliedtoleavesandtotheground,—andtooneanotheritiseitherwingedoritislegged.Itishardlyasifyouhadseenawildcreaturewhenarabbitorapartridgeburstsaway,onlyanaturalone,asmuchtobeexpectedasrustlingleaves.Thepartridgeandtherabbitarestillsuretothrive,liketruenativesofthesoil,whateverrevolutionsoccur.Iftheforestiscutoff,thesproutsandbusheswhichspringupaffordthemconcealment,andtheybecomemorenumerousthanever.Thatmustbeapoorcountryindeedthatdoesnotsupportahare.Ourwoodsteemwiththemboth,andaroundeveryswampmaybeseenthepartridgeorrabbitwalk,besetwithtwiggyfencesandhorse-hairsnares,whichsomecow-boytends.