detwiler NATURE-STUDY OF THE FARM 21 



Summer, on the other hand, gives us a feeling of permanancy. 

 The long, warm days with their prevailing gentle winds, the 

 high sun, the lull in life about us, make us feel as though nature 

 had slowed down on a long course. The days in the fields become 

 wearisome and the vagaries of nature trick us on all sides. The 

 peaceful hills and meadows imbue us with their drowsy spirit. 

 The fleecy clouds that play over them and send their shadows 

 chasing each other over the fields like spirits just set free awaken 

 our imaginations. From the distance the cool woods call us to 

 their shade. 



But this is not all of summer. It has its daily moods. Who 

 has not seen the early morning break and day announced as with 

 a trumpet? 



"Day- 

 Faster and more fast, 



O'er night's brim, day boils at last; 



Boils, pure gold, o'er the cloud cup's brim 



Where spurting and suppressed it lay, 



For not a froth-flake touched the rim 



Of yonder gap in the solid gray 



Of the eastern cloud, an hour away; 



But forth one wavelet, then another, curled, 



Till the whole sunrise, not to be suppressed, 



Rose, reddened, and its seething breast 



Flickered in bounds, grew gold, then overflowed the world." 

 Beautiful as these scenes are they become more beautiful with a 

 touch of life. The drowsy hills of summer seem even more 

 peaceful with quietly grazing herds scattered over them and as 

 the shadows lengthen these lines come to us: 



"Where the quiet coloured end of evening smiles 

 Miles and miles 



On the solitary pastures where the sheep 

 Half asleep 



Tinkle homeward through the twilight." 

 I have only chosen a few illustrations from the natural 

 history of the farm from among the many that constantly sur- 

 round us. I have not touched on the sweet, sad days of autumn. 



"When the maples flame with crimson 



And the nights are still with frost, 



