Release date is 2015-12-08

The muskrats are building -- Christmas in the woods -- A cure for winter -- The nature-student -- Chickadee -- The missing tooth -- The sign of the shad-bush -- The nature movement -- June -- A broken feather -- High noon -- The palace in the pig-pen -- An account with nature -- The buzzard of the Bear Swamp -- The lay of the land.

E-text prepared by Giovanni Fini, Bryan Ness, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive/American Libraries (https://archive.org/details/americana)

"The Lay of the Land" by Dallas Lore Sharp is a nature-themed essay collection written in the early 20th century. The work delves into the intricate relationships between humans and the natural world, exploring how animals, such as muskrats and chickadees, prepare for the changing seasons. Through vivid descriptions and personal reflections, Sharp emphasizes the importance of nature in shaping human experiences and the comforting rhythms of rural life. The opening portion of "The Lay of the Land" introduces readers to the preparations of muskrats for winter as they build their sturdy homes in a meadow. Sharp describes the harshness of a November night and the relentless chill of the wind, contrasting this with the industrious nature of the muskrats, who work together to construct a warm lodge. This rich depiction serves as a metaphor for foresight and resilience in nature, highlighting the interconnectedness of all living things as they face the challenges of winter. The author reflects on the comforting presence of these creatures, finding warmth and solace in sharing space with them in the wild. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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