MAGPIE FIELDS ^^ 



with presage, gloom, tragedy. How bright and 

 clear, again, are the mornings in summer! I once 

 watched the sun rise on London Bridge, and never 

 forgot it. 



In frosty weather, again, when the houses take 

 hard, stern tints, when the sky is clear over great 

 part of its extent, but with heavy thunderous looking 

 clouds in places clouds full of snow the sun 

 becomes of a red or orange hue, and reminds one 

 of the lines of Longfellow when Othere reached 

 the North Cape 



" Round in a fiery ring 

 Went the great sun, oh King ! 

 With red and lurid light." 



The redness of the winter sun in London is, indeed, 

 characteristic. 



A sunset in winter or early spring floods the 

 streets with fiery glow. It comes, for instance, 

 down Piccadilly ; it is reflected from the smooth 

 varnished roofs of the endless carriages that roll to 

 and fro like the flicker of a mighty fire ; it streaks 

 the side of the street with rosiness. The faces of 

 those who are passing are lit up by it, all uncon- 

 scious as they are. The sky above London, indeed, 

 is as full of interest as above the hills. Lunar 

 rainbows occasionally occur ; two to my knowledge 

 were seen in the direction and apparently over the 

 metropolis recently. 



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