Hail-Storms at HtcKcwo^ "j'^ 



I made use of the fence boards to walk through the 

 muddy portions of my path. I had learned by former 

 experiences here to avoid the " dead holes." Stepping 

 on some boards just above a muddy pool, and suddenly 

 turning, I was happily surprised to see many spikes of 

 the Tall White Northern-Orchis {Habenaria dilatatd) 

 standing near. The air was full of their rich perfume, 

 and many small flies and moths hovered around them, 

 sipping the nectar. I gathered a few spikes, and went 

 on to the cool spring beyond, finding meanwhile an 

 abundance of wild strawberries along the borders of 

 my path. These were very large from growing in the 

 moist shade. 



On the hillside, up which I climbed to the west for a 

 short distance, I found pretty leaves of grasses, delicate 

 emerald in color, growing in a triangular form, and 

 resembling lily leaves. 



I had heard distant thunder rolling off" to the north- 

 west, and it caused me to hasten onward. My rest, 

 therefore, at the spring was brief to-day; although so 

 far away from home, I was not so far from shelter, and 

 the thought of a shower was welcome, for the air was 

 sultry. As I neared the open swamp, beyond the mill, 

 the storm made rapid strides, but I wandered up and 

 down the meadow long enough to assure myself that 

 this season the Pogonias and Limodorums were not in 

 bloom on time. 



Large drops of rain began to fall from the black 

 clouds, and as I hurried toward the shelter of the mill, 

 I met Merwin and his mother returning to their home. 



