TWO VIEWS THROUGH WINTER SUNSHINE. 29 



hundred feet higher than Arlington Heights, 

 its view seemed to me less attractive. It is 

 three miles farther from the cities ; fifteen miles 

 farther from the New Hampshire line, and in 

 the centre of a country less picturesque in 

 formation than that of the Middlesex Fells. 

 Moreover, a northwest wind, which is the one 

 most likely to accompany clear winter weather, 

 carries the smoke of Boston in such a direction 

 as to injure the Blue Hill view, while it im- 

 proves that from Arlington. 



As I looked down upon the Neponset 

 meadows, Ponkapog Pond and Great Pond, I 

 saw moving black specks which reminded me 

 of the amusing little snow-fleas. They were 

 skaters, enjoying the ideal weather for their 

 graceful exercise. Passing Governor's Island 

 and heading for Broad Sound was a four- 

 inasted schooner under full sail. Not a bird 

 was to be seen on the hill. The top is covered 

 with scrub-oak, which is replaced on the slopes 

 by small nut-trees, oak saplings, a few pines, 

 birches and maples. There seemed to be no 

 food for any kind of winter bird. In the estates 

 below, near the triple-arch bridge, I saw crows, 

 chickadees, two tree - sparrows and a downy 

 woodpecker. 



As I came back to and through the city by 

 an afternoon train I wondered which was less 



