XXI 



RUR season's labor draws to its 

 close, and with it comes a pe- 

 riod of rest and reflection, as 

 we turn our thoughts back 

 through this pleasant summer of work and 

 hope. 



The charm of a long autumn is very Autumn 

 great, but seldom permitted by our capri- 

 cious climate, which is apt to spoil the 

 garden in September, and then make the 

 misfortune the more apparent by a suc- 

 cession of mild October days, when flow- 

 ers and green leaves would suit the soft 

 warm weather. 



This year, which has made eccentric 

 shifts of all the months in turn, giving 

 us a dry April and a cold July, bestowed 

 upon us a most enchanting autumn, mild 

 and free from storms, so that vegetation 

 remained perfect till late October, and the 

 harvest-time was most propitious. 

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