1 70 Walks in New England 



the discords lost in the greater spirit which informs 

 the wondrous whole. 



The sunlight in these long afternoons reaches 

 into farther depths of the woods than it did in 

 summer months ; and in shadowy twilights where 

 the ferns have scarce seen a ray sift through the 

 lofty tops, they are now touched with long after 

 noon beams that linger and light them with gold, 

 and their green grows tenderer of hue. The 

 leaves of the trees are plainly growing thinner in 

 texture, and they droop from their stems a little, 

 and so the meshes of that wonderful screen are 

 wider and the rays are not all caught, but steal 

 through to the waiting heart of the earth, which 

 has not been warmed since the full delicious April 

 sun awakened the hepaticas and arbutus. Now 

 begin the fragrances of the forest herbs departing 

 life, rising like sacred incense in a solemn temple ; 

 while the cheerful scents of the waysides and pas 

 tures without are as vivacious as the swift and 

 busy existence of mankind itself, both phases of 

 the same indwelling worship, shown in work and 

 sport and meditation with an equal difference. 

 All moods are satisfied in September days, wherein 

 the pulse of harvest is so keen, and the fields 

 are being cleared of their crops, and the fall plow 

 ing is being done for the next year s expectations, 

 and the sweet rowen is mowed which the milch 



