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know what you have done； but the enchantment of the tree…land
will enter your heart and the charm of the wildwood will flow
through your veins。
You will never get away from it。 The sighing of the wind
through the pine…trees and the laughter of the stream in its
rapids will sound through all your dreams。 On beds of silken
softness you will long for the sleep…song of whispering leaves
above your head； and the smell of a couch of balsam…boughs。 At
tables spread with dainty fare you will be hungry for the joy of
the hunt； and for the angler's sylvan feast。 In proud cities you
will weary for the sight of a mountain trail； in great cathedrals
you will think of the long； arching aisles of the woodland； and
in the noisy solitude of crowded streets you will hone after the
friendly forest。
This is what will happen to you if you eat the leaves of
that little vine； Wood…Magic。 And this is what happened to
Luke Dubois。
I
The Cabin by the Rivers
Two highways meet before the door； and a third reaches away to
the southward； broad and smooth and white。 But there are no
travellers passing by。 The snow that has fallen during the
night is unbroken。 The pale February sunrise makes blue shadows
on it； sharp and jagged； an outline of the fir…trees on the
mountain…crest quarter of； a mile away。
In summer the highways are dissolved into three wild
riversthe River of Rocks； which issues from the hills； the
River of Meadows； which flows from the great lake； and the
River of the Way Out； which runs down from their meeting…place
to the settlements and the little world。 But in winter； when
the ice is firm under the snow； and the going is fine； there
are no tracks upon the three broad roads except the paths of
the caribou； and the footprints of the marten and the mink and
the fox； and the narrow trails made by Luke Dubois on his way
to and from his cabin by the rivers。
He leaned in the door…way； looking out。 Behind him in the
shadow； the fire was still snapping in the little stove where
he had cooked his breakfast。 There was a comforting smell of
bacon and venison in the room； the tea…pot stood on the table
half…empty。 Here in the corner were his rifle and some of his
traps。 On the wall hung his snowshoes。 Under the bunk was a
pile of skins。 Half…open on the bench lay the book that he had
been reading the evening before； while the snow was falling。 It
was a book of veritable fairy…tales； which told how men had made
their way in the world； and achieved great fortunes； and won
success； by toiling hard at first； and then by trading and
bargaining and getting ahead of other men。
〃Well；〃 said Luke； to himself； as he stood at the door； 〃I
could do that too。 Without doubt I also am one of the men who
can do things。 They did not work any harder than I do。 But
they got better pay。 I am twenty…five。 For ten years I have
worked hard； and what have I got for it？ This！〃
He stepped out into the morning； alert and vigorous；
deep…chested and straight…hipped。 The strength of the hills
had gone into him； and his eyes were bright with health。 His
kingdom was spread before him。 There along the River of
Meadows were the haunts of the moose and the caribou where he
hunted in the fall； and yonder on the burnt hills around the
great lake were the places where he watched for the bears； and
up beside the River of Rocks ran his line of traps； swinging back
by secret ways to many a nameless pond and hidden
beaver…meadow； and all along the streams； when the ice went
out in the spring； the great trout would be leaping in rapid
and pool。 Among the peaks and valleys of that forest…clad
kingdom he could find his way as easily as a merchant walks
from his house to his office。 The secrets of bird and beast
were known to him； every season of the year brought him its
own tribute； the woods were his domain； vast； inexhaustible；
free。
Here was his home； his cabin that he had built with his
own hands。 The roof was tight； the walls were well chinked
with moss。 It was snug and warm。 But smallhow pitifully
small it looked to…dayand how lonely！
His hand…sledge stood beside the door； and against it
leaned the axe。 He caught it up and began to split wood for
the stove。 〃No！〃 he cried； throwing down the axe； 〃I'm tired
of this。 It has lasted long enough。 I'm going out to make my
way in the world。〃
A couple of hours later； the sledge was packed with camp…gear
and bundles of skins。 The door of the cabin was shut； a
ghostlike wreath of blue smoke curled from the chimney。 Luke
stood； in his snowshoes； on the white surface of the River of the
Way Out。 He turned to look back for a moment； and waved his
hand。
〃Good…bye； old cabin！ Good…bye； the rivers！ Good…bye； the
woods！〃
II
The House on the Main Street
All the good houses in Scroll…Saw City were different； in the
number and shape of the curious pinnacles that rose from their
roofs and in the trimmings of their verandas。 Yet they were
all alike； too； in their general expression of putting their
best foot foremost and feeling quite sure that they made a
brave show。 They had lace curtains in their front parlour
windows； and outside of the curtains were large red and yellow
pots of artificial flowers and indestructible palms and
vulcanised rubber…plants。 It was a gay sight。
But by far the bravest of these houses was the residence
of Mr。 Matthew Wilson； the principal merchant of Scroll…Saw
City。 It stood on a corner of Main Street； glancing slyly out
of the tail of one eye； side…ways down the street； toward the
shop and the business； but keeping a bold； complacent front
toward the street…cars and the smaller houses across the way。
It might well be satisfied with itself； for it had three more
pinnacles than any of its neighbours； and the work of the
scroll…saw was looped and festooned all around the eaves and
porticoes and bay…windows in amazing richness。 Moreover； in
the front yard were cast…iron images painted white： a stag
reposing on a door…mat； Diana properly dressed and returning
from the chase； a small iron boy holding over his head a
parasol from the ferrule of which a fountain squirted。 The
paths were of asphalt； gray and gritty in winter； but now； in
the summer heat； black and pulpy to the tread。
There were many feet passing over them this afternoon； for
Mr。 and Mrs。 Matthew Wilson were giving a reception to
celebrate the official entrance of their daughter Amanda into a
social life which she had permeated unofficially for several
years。 The house was sizzling full of people。 Those who were
jammed in the parlour tried to get into the dining…room； and
those who were packed in the dining…room struggled to escape；
holding plates of stratified cake and liquefied ice…cream high
above their neighbours' heads like signals of danger and
distress。 Everybody was talking at the same time； in a loud；
shrill voice； and nobody listened to what anybody else was
saying。 But it did not matter； for they all said the same things。
〃Elegant house for a party； so full of〃 〃How perfectly
lovely Amanda Wilson looks in that〃 〃Awfully warm day！
Were you at the Tompkins' last〃 〃Wilson's Emporium must be
doing good business to keep up all this〃 〃Hear he's going
to enlarge the store and take Luke Woods into the〃
〃Shouldn't wonder if there might be a wedding here before
next〃
The tide of chatter rose and swelled and ebbed and
suddenly sank away。 At six o'clock； the minister and two
maiden ladies in black silk with lilac ribbons； laid down their
last plates of ice…cream and said they thought they must be
going。 Amanda and her mother preened their dresses and patted
their hair。 Come into the study；〃 said Mr。 Wilson to Luke。 〃I
want to have a talk with you。〃
The little bookless room； called the study； was the one
that kept its eye on the shop and the business； away down the
street。 You could see the brick front； and the plate…glass
windows； and part of the gilt sign。
〃Pretty good store；〃 said Mr。 Wilson； jingling the keys in
his pocket； 〃does the biggest trade in the county； biggest but
one in the whole state； I guess。 And I must say； Luke Woods；
you've done your share； these last five years； in building it
up。 Never had a clerk work so hard and so steady。 You've got
good business sense； I guess。〃
〃I'm glad you think so；〃 said Luke。 〃I did as well as I
could。〃
〃Yes；〃 said the elder man； 〃and now I'm about ready to
take you in with me； give you a share in the business。 I want
some one to help me run it； make it larger。 We can double it；
easy； if we stick to it and spread out。 No reason why you
shouldn't make a fortune out of it； and have a house just like
this on the other corner； when you're my age。〃
Luke's thoughts were wandering a little。 They went out
from the stuffy room； beyond the dusty street； and the
jangling cars； and the gilt sign； and the shop full of
dry…goods and notions； and the high desks in the officeout
to the dim； cool forest； where Snowberry and Partridge…berry
and Wood…Magic grow。 He heard the free winds rushing over the
tree…tops； and saw the trail winding away before him in the
green shade。