42 ECHOES OF SPORT 



of first import, and familiarity breeds con- 

 tempt ; they pay little heed to the silent 

 workers. 



There is a certain valley which springs 

 vividly to my eye at the word stubbles, where 

 I would bid you share an afternoon's stocking 

 and stubbling with me. It is at the entrance 

 to a wild sea of moorland among the hills of 

 Tweed ; through it a road runs that leads 

 over into the solitudes of Yarrow. A babbling 

 burn scurries down it, curling and purling in 

 haste to lose itself in the larger river, fringed 

 here and there with birch and hoary alder, 

 " the last that is left of the birken shaw." 



The trees are still playing at summer this 

 dazzling hot October day, and flaunt their 

 shimmering green finery, though here and 

 there the age of the year has touched them 

 with his tell-tale brush. The heather on 

 the hillside above gives them away, it has 

 ceased to play at make-believe in St. Martin's 

 summer ; its royal coat is exchanged for one 

 of ruddy brown, patched here and there with 

 gold of bracken. 



