130 AUTUMNAL LEAVES. 



the stream the eye lights upon a prospect, away 

 below and over the golden haze that hovers above 

 the tree tops in the valley into which we are 

 descending, of distant wooded hills lying beyond 

 the forestal limits. 



On and down still by a sea of waving Bracken, 

 the setting sun with dying splendour burnishing 

 into brighter glory the gold and amber of the 

 Oak and Beech leaves, making crimson the fronds 

 of Fern and deepening the purple of the Heather 

 bells; flashing on the gold of Furze, sparkling 

 from the Holly, and crimsoning the foliage of 

 wild Strawberry which trails upon the turf. 



Down still, and when we reach the valley bottom 

 we still wander on between Oak and Beech and 

 Holly and by forest glades all purple and gold 

 with Heather and Gorse. In the deepest hollow 

 of the charming valley we cross a brook whose 

 banks are gorgeous with the blossoms of Heather 

 and Furze. And as if these colours were not 

 rich enough a light bank of fleecy cloud, which 

 floats in the western sky, is encrimsoned by the 

 setting sun whilst by it floats a cloudy mass of 

 orange and one of purple, making a combination of 



