AUTUMN TIDES 99 



over again, beginning at the other or little end of 

 the series. There is the same advance and retreat, 

 with many feints and alarms, between the contend- 

 ing forces, that was witnessed in April and May. 

 The spring comes like a tide running against a 

 strong wind ; it is ever beaten back, but ever gain- 

 ing ground, with now and then a mad "push upon 

 the land" as if to overcome its antagonist at one 

 blow. The cold from the north encroaches upon us 

 in about the same fashion. In September or early 

 in October it usually makes a big stride forward and 

 blackens all the more delicate plants, and hastens 

 the " mortal ripening " of the foliage of the trees, 

 but it is presently beaten back again and the genial 

 warmth repossesses the land. Before long, how- 

 ever, the cold returns to the charge with augmented 

 forces and gains much ground. 



The course of the seasons never does run smooth, 

 owing to the unequal distribution of land and water, 

 mountain, wood, and plain. 



An equilibrium, however, is usually reached in 

 our climate in October, sometimes the most marked 

 in November, forming the delicious Indian summer; 

 a truce is declared, and both forces, heat and cold, 

 meet and mingle in friendly converse on the field. 

 In the earlier season, this poise of the temperature, 

 this slack-water in nature, comes in May and June ; 

 but the October calm is most marked. Day after 

 day, and sometimes week after week, you cannot tell 

 which way the current is setting. Indeed, there is 

 no current, but the season seems to drift a little this 



