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every variety of green, and every variety of brown; 

 owing either to the different exposure of the tree, 

 its different soil, or its different nature ; but it is 

 not my business to enquire into causes/ Those 

 who have not stood under the spreading boughs 

 of an Oak in the early Autumn, and carefully 

 looked up through the tree towards the light in 

 such a manner as to bring into view the various 

 hues of the foliage, can have little idea of the 

 almost infinite variety of tints, not only on the 

 same tree and on the same branch but on the 

 same twig. On the same tree are the full green 

 leaves of summer untouched by the slightest 

 shade of autumnal colouring, and leaves which 

 have almost reached the last stage of their dis- 

 colouration as it is called; and between the 

 extremes there is almost every possible tone and 

 shade. Yet all is, as Gilpin so aptly puts it, 

 6 harmonious/ Except where some accident has 

 caused the breaking of a branch and the killing 

 of the leaves upon it there is no harsh contrast. 

 Next to the deep green summer leaves we shall 

 perhaps find others enriched by a slight glow as 

 of golden light, but a glow so spread upon the 



M 2 



