The Heart of Monadnock
59
every new decision gathers to itself every former one that was ever made." As true in life as on the mountain.
He watched the distant black speck that was an ambitious boy slowly worm his way up the rock, poise himself an instant on the lip of a crag and wave his hands to the world at large in exultation at his achievement; then he disappeared on the further side, to reappear a moment later silhouetted in triumph against the sky.
The Mountain-Lover smiled in keen sympathy. He knew well, not only on this but on far greater heights the
"Wild joy of living! the jumping from rock to rock,
"The rending of boughs from the fir tree, the shock
"Of the pool's living water."
"The rending of boughs from the fir tree, the shock
"Of the pool's living water."
That had been the delight of his own adventurous boyhood—as it had been David's. Now, though his delight was different—and perhaps even deeper—he had those imperishable memories that had gone to the shap-
