150 Walks in New England 



sons on the woodbine, their relations in the 

 swamps are saying that the parting of the ways 

 has come. Here we realize first how the inexor 

 able process of Nature moves on, and all the 

 glory of the earth is rushing as swift as sap can 

 move and fruit can mature to the season s turn, 

 when in quick following come all the splendid 

 colours of that bloom which marks the end. 



But it is not given to the race of man to end 

 in splendour as age draws on. That is the boon 

 of the transient show, the partial bestowal of the 

 great spirit which informs all. Man s period is 

 not for yearly change, fall and renewal, but for a 

 momentous pause precluding and signifying a 

 period of new conditions. The trees and the 

 flowers and the grasses obey their genius of exist 

 ence, and go with triumph and with peace into 

 their wintry rest. But we of higher sensitiveness 

 and closer neighbourbood to the great spirit of all 

 have lost that confident commitment of fortune, 

 and worry over what is to happen and what we 

 are to be. There is no need of this anxiousness. 

 &quot; Are ye not of much more value than they ? &quot; 



