At the Foot of the Rainbow

published in 1907, is the story of two life-long friends, Jimmy Malone and Dannie Micnoun. They live near Rainbow Bottom along the Wabash River, where they hunt, fish, and tend their farms. The two characters have many differences; Jimmy often misunderstands his surroundings, but Dannie is in touch with the Earth. By emphasizing their dissimilar approaches to nature, Stratton-Porter shows readers the value of appreciating the environment.

Here Dannie expresses his wonder at the splendor of Rainbow Bottom:

    “I dinna think there is ony place in all the world so guid as the place ye own,” Dannie said earnestly.... “I dinna give twa hoops fra the palaces men rig up, or the thing they call ‘landscape gardening.’ When did men ever compete with the work of God...? The thing God does is guid enough for me.” (103-5) (extended quote)

Jimmy is interested in material things, but Dannie finds the forest and all of nature fascinating and full of life. He prefers natural beauty over artificial “landscape gardening,” and he compares Rainbow Bottom to an endless pot of gold, a marvelous wealth of infinite beauty.