THE STORY OF A GARDEN 1 55 



side of the path the pipsissevva raises 

 its rigid leaves, and the fruit even now 

 is reddening on the partridge vine. Go 

 up the three stone steps to the resting- 

 place between the shaggy hickories. 

 It is so high that the outlook is through 

 the branches. It is a perch where the 

 birds are neighbours, and the red 

 squirrels leap from branch to roof, for- 

 ward and back, and the chipmunk 

 crawls through a knot-hole in the floor 

 to quizz you, and then pours out a 

 wrathful volley at your intrusion. 



In October it is good to sit up here 

 as the leaves fall with a soft monotony, 

 such as water-ripples make, and clos- 

 ing the eyes one can hear the drift of 

 the leafy tide, breaking in unhurried 

 waves. In spring the rocks are red 

 with columbines and the black birch 

 gilds them with its pollen. 



Look below! there lies the garden's 



