238 THE FRIENDSHIP OF NATURE 



did for Joshua. At fifty years seventy 

 seemed like sunset. At seventy, we 

 find it is as yet only cheerful, shining 

 afternoon. Nature has more artifices 

 than all the human conjurers that ever 

 lived." This is the witch-hazel spirit, 

 the talisman for the twilight of year or 

 years. 



The shadows grow more purple, twigs 

 snap, and ice-strands web the thaw 

 pools. The distant water blackens 

 and swallows the flashes from the 

 beacon. Smoking clouds linger above 

 the sunset; then night gathers her gar- 

 ments close. But the titmouse, retreat- 

 ing to his hole, still declares that it is 

 "day! day! day!" 



