HO:\lKS NEAR TO NATURE 



173 





5s:KN-^i*^^^^.?^i2^mi 



0\'ER THE TOP OF THE P.OULDER TO THE DOOR. 



by neglect although the wild woods come 

 to the very door, nor are the wild woods, 

 tangled thickets and profusion of grace- 

 fulness in the ravines offended by being 

 told that they are out of place and must 

 be annihilated. Civilization and modern 

 culture here sit hand in hand with primi- 

 tive nature. The partnership here is 

 complete and perfect. 



Out West. 



BY CAROLINE CL.\RK HINTON. 



Open skies 



And bare, brown hills, 

 The hush of dawn, 

 The hour that thrills. 



A wind 



That sweeps the desert clean. 



And sweeps the heart 



Of all that's mean. 



Mountain flowers 

 In hardy soil : 

 Blooming far from 

 Strife and toil. 



Down below 

 The orchards ripe. 

 The strolling- sheep. 

 The new born light. 



Sage brush. 

 And the coyote's call. 

 A world that's free : 

 ~ A place for all. 



The Russets of November. 



The russets of November 

 Have a beauty all their own. 



Which they offer for our pleasure, 

 When brighter tints have flown. 



The leaves of beech and oak tree 

 That cling the winter through, 



Are warmly rich with color. 



As the sun comes filtering through. 



Birch saplings lend their yellows, 



The larch and aspen too. 

 And fill the world with sunshine. 



When clouds make dark the view. 



Along the country roadsides. 

 The lingering blackberry vines 



Give richness to the picture, 

 In vivid, glowing wines. 



And everywhere black alders, 



With berries all aglow. 

 High lights of scarlet proffer. 



E'en after fall of snow. 



The evergreens add freshness, 

 With their welcome, living green, 



And in the woodside borders, 

 The Christmas fern is seen. 



The blue of distant mountains, 



And the deeper blue of sky. 

 Add brilliance to the pageant 



Which we are passing by. 



And so November russets 



Are but the lower tones 

 Of a symphony of color, 



Which for the cold atones. 



— Emma Peirce. 



