58 AUTUMNAL LEAVES. 



Embowered in trees and shrubs and half-hidden 

 by climbing trailers, clothed, so to speak, like the 

 country around it, it seems to be almost a part of 

 the wild scenes of Nature ; for in the wildest of 

 these scenes we cannot, though no human being 

 may be present, forget that man exists and must 

 find a dwelling-place. 



On our right, as we follow the high road 

 southwards, we pass a cottage which, were it 

 not for the brightness of its ivy-mantled walls, 

 would be buried in shadows, so snugly is it 

 ensconced amidst greenery by its garden front- 

 ing of Sycamore, Horse-Chestnut, Scotch Pine, 

 and Birch the embrowning horse-chestnut 

 leaves and the yellowing foliage of the fading 

 Birch contrasting well with the bluish-green of 

 Pinus sylvestris. A trickling stream which runs 

 by the side of the road is made bright by the 

 yellow bloom of the Water Ragwort, and the 

 crimsoning of the wayside Sorrel, whilst, from a 

 triangular strip of greensward that borders the 

 road, grow the white and golden crowns of the 

 Wild Chamomile, the yellow flowers of the Hawk- 

 weed, and one or two late Buttercups. 



