AUTUMN TIDES. 117 



over again, beginning at the other, or little end of 

 the series. There is the same advance and retreat, 

 with many feints and alarms, between the contend- 

 ing forces that was witnessed in April and May. 

 The spring comes like a tide running against a strong 

 wind ; it is ever beaten back, but ever gaining ground, 

 with now and then a mad " push upon the land " as 

 if to overcome its antagonist at one blow. The cold 

 from the north encroaches upon us in about the same 

 fashion. In September or early in October it usually 

 makes a big stride forward and blackens all the 

 more delicate plants, and hastens the " mortal ripen- 

 ing "of the foliage of the trees, but it is presently 

 beaten back again and the genial \varmth repossesses 

 the land. Before long, however, the cold returns to 

 the charge with augmented forces and gains much 

 ground. 



The course of the seasons never do run smooth, 

 owing to the unequal distribution of land and water, 

 mountain, wood, and plain. 



An equilibrium, however, is usually reached in our 

 climate in October, sometimes the most marked in 

 November, forming the delicious Indian summer ; a 

 truce is declared and both forces, heat and cold, meet 

 and mingle in friendly converse on the field. In the 

 earlier season, this poise of the temperature, this 

 slack water in nature, comes in May and June ; but 

 the October calm is most marked. Day after day, 

 and sometimes week after week, you cannot tell which 

 way the current is setting. Indeed, there is no cur-' 



