238 HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS. 



We found the roads from Lake Keuka to the head 

 of Lake Seneca in excellent condition. The scenery 

 along the way w^as pleasantly diversified with fields and 

 w^oods, sharp hills and fertile little valleys. Clouds and 

 sunshine alternated during the forenoon, and the wind 

 was equally variable. It was pleasant to see the shad- 

 ows and sunshine chasing each other over the billowy 

 fields of grain and unmown meadows. One could 

 plainly see the spots in each that were rankest or 

 thinnest by the way in Avhich they were moved by the 

 wind. The landscape was full of color — yellow stubble- 

 fields, gray meadows of over-ripe grass, oat fields of the 

 finest shades of light green, and, handsomest of all, the 

 fields of corn with drooping leaves that look like 

 rich ribbons of green satin. Corn is beautiful in growth, 

 in all stages, from the little green leaf, just peeping out 

 of the brown earth, to the fluted columns surmounted 

 with golden grain. 



Late in the afternoon we met a bevy of pretty young 

 girls returning from a rural picnic. Their bright gar- 

 ments, with bows and ribbons fluttering in the breeze, 

 seemed almost a part of themselves. The sight made 

 one think of Emerson's expression : " The delicious 

 faces of children, and the beauty of young school girls." 

 It made one glad to look upon them and witness their 

 unrepressed joyousness. They answered our few ques- 

 tions about the way with a frankness that was exhila- 

 rating. Surely there is no pleasanter sight than a com- 

 pany of fair, young girls in their holiday attire, unless 

 it be a company of fairer older ones. 



