MAY. 



127 



The assemblage of the giants of the wood is 

 seen, each in its own character and figure; 

 neither disguised nor hidden in the dense mass 

 of foliage which obscures them in summer ; 

 you behold the scattered and majestic trunks ; 

 the branches stretching high and wide; the 

 dark drapery of ivy which envelopes some of 

 them, and the crimson flush that glows in the 

 world of living twigs above. If the contrast of 

 grey and mossy branches, and of the delicate 

 richness of young leaves gushing out of them 

 in a thousand places be inexpressibly delightful 

 to behold, that of one tree with another is not 

 the^ less so. One is nearly full clothed, 

 another is mottled with grey and green, strug- 

 gling as it were which should have the pre- 

 dominance, and another is still perfectly naked. 

 The wild cherry stands like an* apparition in 

 the woods, white with its profusion of blossom, 

 and the wilding begins to exhibit its rich and 

 blushing countenance. The pines look dim 

 and dusky amid the lively hues of spring. 

 The abeles are covered with their clusters of 

 albescent and powdery leaves and withering 

 catkins ; and beneath them the pale spathes cf 

 the arum, fully expanded and displaying their 



