X 



EARLY AUGUST 



If someone should ask me to show him the place 

 of all others which would reveal the largest num- 

 ber of striking flowers peculiar to this season, I 

 should like to guide him to a certain salt-marsh — A salt- 

 a salt-marsh which is cut up here and there by 

 little inlets, where the water runs up at high tide 

 and laps its way far inland, and which is dotted 

 by occasional islands of higher, drier land that 

 are covered with tall trees. 



In the distance the marsh only looks refresh- 

 ingly green, but if we draw nearer we see patches 

 of vivid coloring for which the bright grass of 

 the salt-meadows fails to account. If we enter it 

 by way of the sand-hills on the beach, we almost 

 hesitate to step upon the dainty carpet which lies 

 before us. Hundreds of sea-pinks, or Sabbatia, Sta-pink 

 gleam like rosy stars above the grasses. Yet the 

 prodigal fashion in which this plant lavishes its 

 rich color upon the meadows does not constitute 

 its sole or even its chief claim upon our enthusi- 

 asm, for it is as perfect in detail as it is beautiful 



141 



