i58 "FULLNESS AFTER DEARTH" 



to this wild and lovely land by the sea there 

 can be no doubt. In every dry ditch the 

 nettles are springing up, and the white 

 blossom already crests some of the clusters. 

 The spade-shaped leaves of the celandine 

 a flower that usually comes in February 

 or March, and resembles a buttercup 

 are among the grasses in the meadows, 

 the cuckoo-plants are rising, a lark has 

 two eggs in her nest, while her mate sings 

 with vernal ecstasy high above. 



The hedge-banks are refreshed with 

 young seedling plants, dandelions, hawk- 

 weeds, speedwell, thistles, lords-and-ladies, 

 and a score of others. I know a damp 

 patch by the roadway where every spring 

 giant docks grow. In July their immense 

 leaves, three feet long, turn crimson and 

 brown; in August tall spires of rusty 

 seeds are prepared, and the stalks stand 

 next spring. This year, however, the 

 seeds were dropped in June. Now the 

 plants are putting forth fresh leaves that 



