14 ON THE COAST OF MAINE 



trees, and exquisitely carpeted with thick 

 light-green moss mixed with several varieties 

 of dark moss. On this as a foundation were 

 beautiful growing things, bunchberry, now 

 gorgeous in clustered scarlet berries sitting 

 on their four green leaves like queens on a 

 throne ; blueberry bushes which had at- 

 tained only four or five inches in height, but 

 bravely held aloft their tiny blossoms, pro- 

 mise of rich blue fruit ; wintergreens with 

 tender green leaves ; in one corner a patch 

 of partridge-berry vines loaded with lovely, 

 fragrant bloom, and not the least attractive, 

 some fine grasses, graceful, airy things, beau- 

 tiful as flowers, holding their minute seed- 

 cups like purple gems shining in the morning 

 sun. 



Other growths there were of different 

 shapes and colors to me unknown, but all 

 looked so peaceful, so happy, each little plant 

 coming up out of the ground where Nature 

 had placed it, doing its little best in the 

 spot, making itself as lovely as possible, put- 

 ting out its perfect blossoms and never 

 dreaming of being discontented with its lot. 

 It was a bit of fairyland. One could easily 



