Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

walking in the path along High St. They had evidently already espied me for one said “What do you suppose it is - a cow.” I smiled and waited. Presently they cam forward to investigate and as I was unwilling to be disturbed, having discovered that one of the peculiar sounds came from a place near me, I noisily cleared my throat. The man foolishly remarked “Its a man” and both turned away. I smiled and tried to think of something funny to say to relive the situation but could think of nothing. I realized then that it might seem peculiar to them for a fellow to be standing still in the middle of a pond-bed at that time of night, so I started to whistle and stride briskly from the place. I had almost reached solid ground when I heard some of the sounds close at my feet. I stopped and thought I could distinguish a grasshopper.* When it finally flew up, I was sure of it. It was a big one, the kind, which I have noticed differ from the other

*Long-horned grasshopper