UP FROM THE SEA I I I 



had sounded the first whisper of autumn 

 in the dripping trees. Before dawn, 

 however, rain and wind ceased, a chilly 

 stillness settled over field and woodland, 

 and when the sun rose, every twig, and 

 branch, and grass-blade sparkled with 

 crystals of hoar-frost. 



The stream was rushing and tum- 

 bling in a brown flood over its rocky 

 bed, carrying with it sheaves of corn, 

 clusters of rushes, brown and green, 

 branches, and dead driftwood, as it 

 hurried on its way to the sea. The leaves 

 of sycamore and hazel fell upon its 

 murky tide, and were quickly hustled 

 out of sight, or they collected upon the 

 slower backwaters, covering the foamy 

 surface with a carpet of yellow and rus- 

 set brown. 



It was the first flood of the month ; 

 and j ust as the first frost of winter marks 

 the coming of the fieldfare from the 

 North, so the brown waters of Septem- 



