SEPTEMBER 



25 



By the twenty -fifth of September, the red ma- 

 ples generally are beginning to be ripe. Some 

 large ones have been conspicuously changing for a 

 week, and some single trees are now very brilliant. 

 I notice a small one, half a mile off across a 

 meadow, against the green woodside there, a far 

 brighter red than the blossoms of any tree in 

 summer, and more conspicuous. I have observed 

 this tree for several autumns invariably changing 

 earlier than its fellows, just as one tree ripens 

 its fruit earlier than another. It might serve to 

 mark the season, perhaps. 



THOBEAU: Autumnal Tints. 



26 



The scarlet of the dogwood is the most conspicu- 

 ous and interesting of the autumnal colors at pres- 

 ent. You can now easily detect them at a distance. 

 Every one in the swamps you have overlooked is 

 revealed. The smooth sumach and the mountain 

 ash are a darker, deeper, bloodier red. 



THOKEAU: Autumn. 



How beautiful, when a whole tree is like one 

 great scarlet fruit full of ripe juices, every leaf, 

 from lowest limb to topmost spire, all aglow, es- 

 pecially if you look towards the sun ! 



THOREAU: Autumnal Tints. 



