ALONG THE WATERWAYS 55 



it is meshed by Tear-Thumb, Goose -Grass, Dodder, 

 or the persistent Hog Peanut, we see its wonderful 

 color, but lose its identity of form. Here, back- 

 grounded by clear-cut rock, it stood out in perfect 

 and untroubled stateliness. Two of its companions 

 along the waterways, which form with it a sort of 

 floral tricolor, are also seen in greater beauty when 

 they grow massed along the course of running 

 streams, than where a profusion of rank marsh 

 growth overpowers them. These are the flesh - 

 white Turtle -Head and the purple Closed Gentian, 

 flower of mystery, that keeps its lips tight closed 

 upon whatever secrets it possesses. 



The Turtle -Head was already in bloom, for it 

 usually keeps pace with the Cardinal Flower. The 

 Closed Gentian not showing its intensely opaque 

 purple flowers until middle August, loses them 

 before its companions are out of bloom. 



Farther down the road, where a lane turns off 

 over a low -set bridge into a wood lot, there flowers 

 each year a patch of Closed Gentian, such as one 

 seldom sees now within reach of travelled roads. 

 Exactly where it is I will not tell, though I may 

 lead you there some day. I guard its haunt as 

 Time o' Year guards his Arbutus. 



Within a space of a scant dozen feet, deep- 



