NOISE AND WIND 



land, but they are mostly musical noises, their environ- 

 ment would seem to have softened and modulated 

 them and they have become a part of it. 



Hear the rhythmic swish of scythe, the clattering 

 throb of mowing-machine, slaying its swath of inno- 

 cent beauty, the droning hum of thrashing- 

 machine ebbing and flowing, the cowman 

 calling home his herd, the ploughman urging 

 on his straining horses, the woodman's axe, 

 the blacksmith's ringing anvil, the hundred 

 sounds of fertile country-side, floating 

 through the air ; all have exchanged their harsh 

 and hurrying clash for Nature's sweeter tones. 



\ 



In the town there is nothing but unpleasantness 

 in the dust-laden wind, it has no music, only an eerie 

 howl or whistling moan ; but out among the wooded 

 hills it has a thousand murmured notes, its unseen 

 hands attune a mighty orchestra. 



Listen where its passing breath vibrates the 

 needles of the pine in happy sighs, the gentle caress 

 as it ' bloweth where it listeth ' through the leaves and 

 draws forth a host of rustling notes as in varying 



125 



THE SOFTNESS 

 OF COUNTRY 



SOUNDS 



MOWING- 

 MACHINE 



WIND 



