248 THE EULOGY OF RICHARD JEFFERIES. 



adheres to the shoes like mortar, and for some 

 time after one has left it each footstep leaves 

 a white mark on the turf. On the ridge the 

 low trees and bushes have an outline like the 

 flame of a candle in a draught the wind has 

 blown them till they have grown fixed in that 

 shape. In an oak across the ploughed field 

 a flock of wood-pigeons have settled ; on the 

 furrows there are chaffinches, and larks rise 

 and float a few yards farther away. The snow 

 has ceased, and though there is no wind on 

 the surface, the clouds high above have opened 

 somewhat, not sufficient for the sun to shine, 

 but to prolong the already closing afternoon a 

 few minutes. If the sun shines to-morrow 

 morning the lark will soar and sing, though it 

 is January, and the quick note of the chaffinch 

 will be heard as he perches on the little 

 branches projecting from the trunks of trees 

 below the great boughs. Thrushes sing every 

 mild day in December and January, entirely 

 irrespective of the season, also before rain." 



Here is Cider-land : 



" The Lower Path, after stile and hedge and 



