FOOTPATHS 



" *A L WA YS get over a stile," is the one rule 

 a\ \ that should ever be borne in mind by 

 /f==\ \ those who wish to see the land as it 

 */L > \ really is that is to say, never omit 

 to explore a footpath, for never was there a foot- 

 path yet which did not pass something of interest. 



In the meadows everything comes pressing 

 lovingly up to the path. The small-leaved clover 

 can scarce be driven back by frequent footsteps 

 from endeavouring to cover the bare earth of the 

 centre. Tall buttercups, round whose stalks the 

 cattle have carefully grazed, stand in ranks ; strong 

 ox-eye daisies, with broad white disks and torn 

 leaves, form with the grass the tricolour of the 

 pasture white, green, and gold. 



When the path enters the mowing-grass, ripe 

 for the scythe, the simplicity of these cardinal hues 

 is lost in the multitude of shades and the addition 

 of other colours. The surface of mowing-grass 

 is indeed made up of so many tints that at the first 

 glance it is confusing; and hence, perhaps, it is 

 that hardly ever has an artist succeeded in getting 

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