RINGWOOD TO FOEDINGBRIDGE. 107 



base on a mound of earth just above water-level 

 is the graceful form of an Ash. The stream, 

 eddying below us and broadening out beyond the 

 bridge, flows down a little distance from where we 

 stand over a weir and thence on through its 

 water-meadows towards Eingwood. By the weir 

 margin and in the meadow beyond are groups 

 of trees Elm, Ash and Horse-Chestnuts the 

 autumnal yellowing of the Elm and the richer and 

 deeper orange and yellow of the Horse-Chestnuts 

 standing out strongly in relief against their darker 

 background of greenery. Across the tree-tops 

 clouds are swiftly drifting, chequering the blue of 

 the sky, whilst the wind, as we look at them, 

 is making music amongst the branches sweet 

 treble notes to the bass of the weir. 



The Avon itself, as we look down at its flowing 

 current, is suggestive of the season, for it bears 

 autumnal leaves on its surface one, two, three, 

 they go, faster than we can count them yellow, 

 orange, red and green, borne on the liquid bosom 

 of the stream, which is rapidly running towards 

 the weir and making thence for the sea. It is a 

 pretty sight to watch the Autumn falling of leaves 



