THE BEECH WOOD 



mightiest efforts and lifting a proud head a hundred 

 feet high on each of ten thousand clean smooth 

 rounded columns, arched and interlaced in graceful 

 curve and sweep, that lead the eye up and up to where 

 the netted filigree of tiny twigs would seem to brush 

 the dome of heaven ; her charms are in her sweet 



moodiness, her always fair uncertainty. Her lower 

 branches are almost in full leaf, clothed with those 

 fragile, unpleating, exquisitely beautiful pale-green 

 leaves, just sprays of giant maiden-hair ; while her 

 topmost branches are still bare, and, though kissed 

 and tossed in gentle breeze and sunshine, have not 

 . 6 81 



YOUNG 



UNPLEATING 



BEECH LEAVES 



