IRamble 



to the bare twigs and nut-like fruit that the songs 

 of summer birds bear to the leaves and flowers. 



The clump of trees was deserted by the crows 

 before I reached it, and when I stood in the 

 weedy hollow between the five huge trunks, the 

 spot was still as the sleepy churchyard with its 

 charge. For the first time, though often here be- 

 fore, I noticed how strangely shaped were the 

 trunks of the two willows, and closer investigation 

 showed that they had overgrown a stile until at 

 last they had quite concealed it. The wood of 

 the two old willows was now so rotten, except for 

 a little space next the bark, that the last efforts of 

 a raccoon or opossum to effect a lodgment had 

 broken away large pieces of the trees, and so ex- 

 posed the stile. A path had at one time passed 

 between these trees, and I could see the probable 

 direction it extended ; but why a path here, and 

 from what point did it start, and whereto did it 

 lead? These were hopeless questions. I doubt 

 if any one now living knows; and what of the 

 people who had passed to and fro in years long 

 gone ? Here, indeed, must have been a favorite 

 spot for people to meet by accident, of course 

 and we know that young Friends were equal to 

 falling in love, and have been known to flirt. I 

 have knowledge of one lively lass that could not 

 be sobered by a drab gown, who was so frequently 

 called to account by her elders that she finally got 

 out of all patience, and very wisely, for her peace's 

 13* 197 



