EARLY AUTUMN DAYS 



air, yet without cold, unless perhaps an unusual 

 energy has persuaded us to seek an early basket of 

 mushrooms in the valley, where still lies the shallow 

 filmy morning mist, and all the herbage is drenched 

 in soaking dew, each step breaking as we walk 

 a hundred gos- 

 samer threads, 

 all strung with 

 fairy dew-drop 

 lamps. Soon 

 they will dis- 

 appear, save 

 perhaps on 

 the shady side 

 of that high 

 hedge, where 

 hang the great 

 round webs 

 tethered to 

 their moorings by silken ropes, now strained to break- 

 ing point, with their load of sparkling gems. For now 

 the sun has flashed away the mists, in thrice gold 

 beams of mellow light he floods the vale ; methinks 



153 



THE GHEAT 



ROUND WEBS 



WITH THEIR 



LOAD OF 



DIAMONDS 



