v 120 



April a long dream of bloom. In May there 

 is the flash of scarlet Virginia creeper, be- 

 loved alike of butterfly and humming-bird. 

 Master Ruby -throat often builds his wee 

 nest in its shelter, and always draws from 

 its deep cup his choicest sweets. 



In the pebbly reaches that spring floods 

 cover yearly you find pink and purple lark- 

 spur, the curious root known locally as 

 "Adam and Eve," Jack-in-the-pulpit, yel- 

 low celandine, and yellow, wild mimosa. 

 Wherever there is a bit of fine earth blue 

 grass springs spontaneously, starred with a 

 million dandelions. Countless May apples 

 burst up through it, too there is apt to be 

 a pawpaw thicket and if the earthy bank 

 abuts upon the water a fringe of green, stiff 

 rushes. 



After the first frost go down the creek for 

 chestnuts and scaly-barks. You will walk 

 through a glory of yellow leaves, with the 

 smell of new-fallen ones coming sweet from 

 under foot. Grassland is green as in May. 

 Only weeds and stubble lie sere in the low 

 sun-rays. The winds breathe, rather than 

 blow, yet the ripe nuts patter, patter, at each 

 sigh of them. Gather good store, but leave 

 plenty for the squirrels. Winter is at hand, 

 and they are rightful heirs to Nature's bounty. 



