Some Summer Days in Iowa
BY
Frederick John Lazell
A book of the seasons, each page of which should be written inits own season and out of doors, or in its own locality, whereverit may be.—thoreau
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA
THE TORCH PRESS
NINETEEN HUNDRED NINE
Copyright 1909
by
Fred J. Lazell
"HAS CUT ITS WAY STRAIGHT DOWN THE FACE OF A CLIFF" (p. 111)
PREFACE
Like the two preceding little volumes of this series, this book seeksto show something of what Iowa has to offer to the man who loves theout-of-doors. There is nothing very unusual in it. The trees and theflowers, the birds and the small wild animals which it mentions anddescribes are such as may be seen in the Iowa fields and woods byanyone who cares enough about them to walk amid their haunts. Theillustrations are such as the ordinary nature lover may "take" forhimself with his pocket kodak. The woodthrush built in a thicket bythe bungalow and borrowed a paper napkin for her nest. The chipmunkcame every morning for his slice of bread. And then the woodchucklearned to be unafraid.
It has long been the author's belief that Iowa has just as much tooffer the nature lover as any other part of the world—that she hasindeed a richer flora than many states—and that every[Pg 8] true Iowanought to know something of her trees and shrubs and herbs, her birdsand animals, and to feel something of the beauty of her skies and herlandscapes. There is so much beauty all around us, every day of theyear, shall we not sometimes lift our eyes to behold it?
The majority of Iowa people still find pleasure in the simple life,still have the love for that which Nature so freely bestows. They findtime to look upon the beauty of the world. Many a busy man finds hisbest recreation in the woods and fields. It may be only a few hourseach week, but it is enough to keep the music of the flowing watersever in his ears and the light of the sunshine in his eyes. It isenough to give the men and the women of the state wholesome views oflife, happy hearts and broad sympathies. Some few find in the woodsand fields thoughts and feelings which are, to them, almost akin toreligion. If this little book helps such lovers of the out-of-doorsever so little; if it shall help others to see for themselves thebeauty and the joy and the goodness of this world in which we live,the author will feel that it has been worth while.
VII.—AN OLD ROAD IN JULY
In the old woods road a soft haze hung, too subtle to see save whereits delicate colorings were contrasted against the dark green leavesof the oaks beyond the fence. Not the tangible, vapory haze of earlymorning, but a tinted, ethereal haze, the visible effluence of thesummer, the nimbus of its power and glory. From tall cord grassesarching over the side of the road, drawing water from the ditch inwhich their feet were bathed