THE FAERY YEAR 



planet which now fills the place of Venus, and, 

 rising in the evening, is still as a morning star 

 in May. 



The Kindling Beech 



Those who often look on the beeches massed on 

 some hanger or clumped about the hill-tops know 

 well the three distinct phases in the early summer, 

 autumn, and mid-winter life of the tree. First, the 

 emerald green of later May ; second, the flame of 

 October and November ; and third, the ice sheen 

 of December and January. But there is a fourth 

 phase of the beech tree's, less striking, but of subtler 

 beauty, than any of the others. The first three 

 familiar states of the beech are lavish in colour and 

 pomp. The fourth, which we enjoy at the end of 

 April and the beginning of May, is hardly to be 

 seen at the first glance. The full pleasure to the 

 observer scarcely comes till he has looked at the 

 beeches close and long ; then it is a sure reward. 

 At first, when the buds begin to swell and thicken 

 in April, the trees merely seem, at a short distance, 

 closer and finer in their lacework of twigs. 



But presently we notice that the whole tree is 

 aflush at the tips. We fancy we catch a rosy tint, 

 but the impression which the beech tree makes at 

 this season is not so much one of colour as of the 

 indescribable kindling of new life. It is the fire of 

 spring, full of undertone, subtle effect, rather than 

 of the biting or flaming hues of the fall of the year. 

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