Wilderness Ways

Wood Folk #2

by William Joseph Long

Excerpt from Wilderness Ways
Indeed, it is hardly necessary for genuine interest to give human traits to the beasts. Any animal is inter esting enough as an animal, and has character enough of his own, without borrowing anything from man - as one may easily find out by watching long enough.
Most wild creatures have but small measure of gentleness in them, and that only by instinct and at short stated sea sons. Hence I have given both sides and both kinds, the shadows and lights, the savagery as well as the gentleness of the wilderness creatures.
It were pleasanter, to be sure, especially when you have been deeply touched by some exquisite bit of animal devo tion, to let it go at that, and to carry with you henceforth an ideal creature.
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Genres: Outdoors

84 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1900

About the author

William Joseph Long (1867-1952) was an American writer, naturalist and minister. He lived and worked in Stamford, Connecticut as a minister of the First Congregationalist Church.

Reviews

[Scribblescribe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm 92% finished with this book so I thought I would write a review for it a bit early. This is a pretty good book, yet sad in a way because it makes you realize how much has changed in little over a hundred years on this continent. I learned a few things about animal behaviors in the north woods that I wasn't aware of before. True, the author anthropomorphizes the animal vignettes he does, but they still contain valuable information.

I wonder what Native American language he uses to name the animals. I think Malecite (Maliseet?) maybe.
Tried googling the animal names and didn't come up with much. This is what happens when languages die out I suppose :(. Then again, maybe the spellings Long used aren't the spellings people use nowadays.

I can't be sure.

http://www.kellscraft.com/beastsoffie...

Be sure to check out that page because it has a little information about the native american words.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming little book. Some of it is reasonably accurate information about the behavior of the animals watched and studied by the nature-loving parson, and some of it is quaint anthropomorphism. Regardless, his turn of phrase makes you feel the wonder and variety of the outdoors. I read it by a fire, and could almost imagine myself in the place of the author, sitting at a crackling campfire and journaling about the spectacles he'd seen that day. The book gives you a peaceful feeling...don't be surprised if you drift off into a comfortable doze.