THE COUNTRY LIFE. 257 



pollen of early grasses growing on the edge 

 was dusted from them each time the hawthorn 

 boughs were shaken by a thrush. These 

 lower sprays came down in among the grass, 

 and leaves and grass-blades touched. 



" It was between the May and the June 

 roses. The may-bloom had fallen, and among 

 the hawthorn boughs were the little green 

 bunches that would feed the redwings in 

 autumn. High up the briars had climbed, 

 straight and towering while there was a thorn, 

 or an ash sapling, or a yellow-green willow to 

 uphold them, and then curving over towards 

 the meadow. The buds were on them, but 

 not yet open ; it was between the may and the 

 rose. 



" As the wind, wandering over the sea, takes 

 from each w r ave an invisible portion, and brings 

 to those on shore the ethereal essence of ocean, 

 so the air lingering among the woods and 

 hedges green waves and billows became 

 full of fine atoms of summer. Swept from 

 notched hawthorn-leaves, broad-topped oak- 

 leaves, narrow ash sprays and oval willows ; 

 from vast elm cliffs and sharp-taloned brambles 



1? 



