2 1 8 Walks in New England 



oak is that enduring symbol of aged force, which 

 contains the earnest of eternity. And when that, 

 too, passes, there remain the hemlocks, pines and 

 spruces, and the vital cedars, that can subsist for 

 centuries on the mere trickle of rains on the cleft 

 rocks, these in the bare forests will still uplift 

 their vivid or their solemn greens, and the wind 

 that plays within their boughs as upon giant harps 

 brings forth the superb rhythms of continuous 

 praise. 



How full are the fields and forests of this hold 

 on life ! Not for the moment is anything in Na 

 ture born. It is true that life never ceases. All 

 these living things which have made the beauty 

 of the earth do not supinely rest in winter. 

 Note how the buds swell on the birches; how 

 the arbutus buds are all ready for spring even 

 now; how the azalea and the laurel give the same 

 tokens. Note how the foot leaves of a thou 

 sand humble plants spread themselves on the 

 kindly ground, and keep life for the flower stalks 

 of the spring or summer. And in such a fall as 

 this, note how the young seedlings of the year 

 hurry into bloom, to greet the wooing gentleness 

 of the southern zephyrs. On a recent walk over 

 mountain and valley a company of lovers of Na 

 ture made note of 56 species of wild flowers in full 

 bloom; among them the wild strawberry, the 



