До Адама

           AndasIwatchedhimIfeltinmyownbeing,inmyverymusclesthemselves,thesurgeandthrillofdesiretogoleapingfromboughtobough;andIfeltalsotheguaranteeofthelatentpowerinthatbeingandinthosemusclesofmine.Andwhynot?Littleboyswatchtheirfathersswingaxesandfelltrees,andfeelinthemselvesthatsomedaythey,too,willswingaxesandfelltrees.Andsowithme.Thelifethatwasinmewasconstitutedtodowhatmyfatherdid,anditwhisperedtomesecretlyandambitiouslyofaerialpathsandforestflights.

           Atlastmyfatherjoinedus.Hewasextremelyangry.Iremembertheout-thrustofhisprotrudingunderlipasheglareddownatthewildpigs.Hesnarledsomethinglikeadog,andIrememberthathiseye-teethwerelarge,likefangs,andthattheyimpressedmetremendously.

           Hisconductservedonlythemoretoinfuriatethepigs.Hebrokeofftwigsandsmallbranchesandflungthemdownuponourenemies.Heevenhungbyonehand,tantalizinglyjustbeyondreach,andmockedthemastheygnashedtheirtuskswithimpotentrage.Notcontentwiththis,hebrokeoffastoutbranch,and,holdingonwithonehandandfoot,jabbedtheinfuriatedbeastsinthesidesandwhackedthemacrosstheirnoses.Needlesstostate,mymotherandIenjoyedthesport.

           Butonetiresofallgoodthings,andintheend,myfather,chucklingmaliciouslythewhile,ledthewayacrossthetrees.Nowitwasthatmyambitionsebbedaway,andIbecametimid,holdingtightlytomymotherassheclimbedandswungthroughspace.Irememberwhenthebranchbrokewithherweight