NOVEMBER 



19 



Ascending a little knoll covered with sweet fern, 

 the sun appearing but little above the sweet fern, 

 its light was reflected from a dense mass of the 

 bare, downy twigs of this plant in a surprising 

 manner which would not be believed, if described. 

 It was quite like the sunlight reflected from grass 

 and weeds covered with hoar frost. Yet in an 

 ordinary light, these are but dark or dusky-look- 

 ing with scarcely a noticeable downiness. But as 

 I saw them, there was a perfect halo of light rest- 

 ing on the knoll. . . . This is one of the hundred 



silvery lights of November. 



THOREAU: Autumn. 



2O 



I see in the path some rank thimble - berry 

 shoots covered very thickly with their peculiar 

 hoary bloom. It is only rubbed off in a few places 

 down to the purple skin, by some passing hunter, 

 perchance. It is a very singular and delicate 

 outer coat surely for a plant to wear. I find that 

 I can write my name on it with a pointed stick 

 very distinctly, each stroke, however fine, going 

 down to the purple. It is a new kind of enameled 

 card. What is this bloom and what purpose does 

 it serve ? Is there anything analogous in animated 



nature ? 



THOREAU: Autumn. 



