all aglitter with diamond dust in the gray 

 shine of stars ! 



Here the ground is thick with buckeyes. 

 Steal one when nobody is looking, and slip 

 it into your pocket to ward off rheumatism. 

 If anybody sees, the charm is broken. Take 

 a handful of crab-apples, too, for perfume. 

 They will smell of the wilds while they keep 

 a drop of juice. Gather silk-weed pods for 

 luck. The darkies say that if, when they 

 burst into a torrent of white floss, your 

 breath will not blow it away, good fortune 

 will abide with you till the silk -weed is 

 again in seed. Flowers are scarce enough 

 to be precious. This cluster of blue gen- 

 tian blooming in the thicket brings joy in- 

 deed. Bear it home in triumph ; and if you 

 care for curious forms, go through the deep 

 oak-wood, and dig up a clump of wax-white 

 Indian-pipe as well. Take along some of 

 its native earth, and plant the flower, that 

 is without leaf or root, in a low, flat bowl. 

 Wreathe it with oak-leaves and fern, and lay 

 a handful of scarlet sumach so the Indian- 

 pipes will peep up through it ; or if you are 

 weary of the color riot, leave the earth bare 

 except for a few acorns and acorn cups. 

 The over-cup, fringed half an inch deep 

 about the edge, is handsomest of all. Fail- 



