THE PBICKLY-ASH COVEBT. 217 



cesses. An area of only about fifty feet square 

 does it cover, yet it gives shelter to many a wood- 

 land sprite. In winter I have seen the chewink 

 scratching among its fallen leaves; have heard 

 the cardinal's clear whistling note from its 

 thorny midst, and have noted a covey of quails, 

 when hard pressed by the hunters in a neighbor- 

 ing stubble field, fly to its fastnesses. To-day it 

 is peaceful and quiet, welcoming me with its 

 pleasing fragrance and a nodding of its dark 

 green compound leaves. Over it the glory of the 

 mid-day sun at present falls, and from it at 

 eventide the flute-like call of the wood thrush 

 will resound. 



