146 THE FRIENDSHIP OF NATURE 



overlooks the flower corner. The 

 cedars that make it were born upon 

 the soil, and the bitter-sweet vine 

 around the entrance is their old ac- 

 quaintance. On the right is the spar- 

 rows' hedge, dense, and full eight feet 

 wide, and the sparrows claim it from 

 attic to cellar and grow quite pert in 

 their security. The flower corner faces 

 west and south; a few hours later you 

 may see the sun go down behind the 

 hills, and the bright colours of the 

 flowers focus the eye for sunset glories. 

 This shelter is a place for twilight 

 hours. The vesper-sparrow comes here, 

 and the veery haunts the trees that 

 follow a watercourse down in the 

 meadow; and together they perform a 

 duet — flute and flageolet — while the 

 spiders, crawling out as the darkness 

 deepens, trace their webs to and fro, 

 to and fro, drop a stitch, pick up a 

 stitch — crafty knitters ! 



