GOLDEN-ROD 



'OBODY has been considerate enough of a 

 wise curiosity to tell us why in autumn the 

 purples and yellows are the lavish colors. I 

 would thank some of the knowing for such 

 item of information. But certain I am that 

 the autumn flowers riot in yellow hues. They 

 have caught the sun in their heart through 

 all the golden summer, have caught every 

 beam coming their way and held each as the 

 naiads held fair Hylas what time he bathed 

 him in Scamander, while his 

 purple chlamys lay upon the 

 shore. The autumn flowers 

 seem never to forget a syllable 

 of sunlight any more than love 

 forgets a syllable of wooing; and in the 

 Fall in blooming they rehearse all 

 they have heard, as lovers tell 



each other all the sweet words the other had written 



or said, while each listening says, "Did I say that? 



and when? and you remembered?" and then they 



kiss each other on the lips. So the sunflowers and 



black- eyed susans and the golden-rods save up and 



rehearse the sunshine of the year. Bless them for * 



their tenacious memories. 



Golden-rod may be deleterious to hay fever 



votaries, but is sympathetic and friendly to those 



of us who indulge in no such lachrymose luxury. 



Well people have some rights, though they are 



73 



