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Blackwood, Algernon, 1869-1951

"The Extra Day"

Each seeker held true to his or
her first love, obeying an infallible instinct. The adventure and
romance that hid in Tim and Judy, respectively, sent them headlong
after anything that offered signs of these two common but seductive
qualities. Judy lived literally in the air, her feet, her heart,
her eyes all off the ground; Tim, filled with an equally insatiable
curiosity, found adorable danger in every rabbit-run, and rescued
things innumerable. Off the ground he felt unsafe, unsure, and lost
himself. Stumper, faithful to his scouting passion, disappeared into
all kinds of undesirable places no one else would have dreamed of
looking in, yet invariably--came back; and while Uncle Felix tried a
little of everything and found "copy" in a puddle or a dandelion,
Weeden carried his empty sack without a murmur, knowing it would be
filled with truffles at the end. Aunt Emily, exceedingly particular,
but no longer interfering with the others, was equally sure of
herself. A touch of fluid youth ran in her veins again, and in her
heart grew a fern that presently she would find everywhere outside as
well--a maiden-hair.
Each, however, in some marvellous way, shared the adventures of the
others, as though the Tramp merged all seven of them into one single
being, unified them, at any rate, into this one harmonious, common
purpose with himself.


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