the Orient and the plenteous harvests of the Golden West might no more
pass between nation and nation。 For some time the trees and flowers
grew on； despite the intense cold。 Birds flew into the houses for
safety； and those which winter had overtaken lay on the snow with wings
spread in vain flight。 At last the foliage and blossoms fell at the feet
of Winter。 The petals of the flowers were turned to rubies and
sapphires。 The leaves froze into emeralds。 The trees moaned and tossed
their branches as the frost pierced them through bark and sap； pierced
into their very roots。 I shivered myself awake； and with a tumult of joy
I breathed the many sweet morning odours wakened by the summer sun。
One need not visit an African jungle or an Indian forest to hunt the
tiger。 One can lie in bed amid downy pillows and dream tigers as
terrible as any in the pathless wild。 I was a little girl when one night
I tried to cross the garden in front of my aunt's house in Alabama。 I
was in pursuit of a large cat with a great bushy tail。 A few hours
before he had clawed my little canary out of its cage and crunched it
between his cruel teeth。 I could not see the cat。 But the thought in my
mind was distinct： 〃He is making for the high grass at the end of the
garden。 I'll get there first！〃 I put my hand on the box border and ran
swiftly along the path。 When I reached the high grass； there was the cat
gliding into the wavy tangle。 I rushed forward and tried to seize him
and take the bird from between his teeth。 To my horror a huge beast； not
the cat at all； sprang out from the grass； and his sinewy shoulder
rubbed against me with palpit