SEASON OF MIST' 



FOGS and mists are clouds formed close to earth ; we can see, 

 inversely, that clouds are simply mists at a high level, when 

 we climb among them on a mountain pass. Autumn and 

 winter bring the cooler mountain temperatures down to the 

 plain ; and a thick grey mist with the grass-heads silvery 

 with beaded moisture is equally familiar in August on the 

 mountain-tops, and in November on lowland commons. 

 Though dense fogs are some of the worst features in our 

 climate, the thinner fog which we call a mist often gives 

 the supreme touch of attraction to an exquisite autumn day. 

 The whole year has nothing more delicately beautiful than the 

 slow clearing of the mist on a fine September morning ; and 

 even in November, the sun breaking through the denser 

 vapours on the golden elm boughs makes as glorious a scene 

 as any that summer can show. There is a fascinating sense 

 of mystery in a dense winter fog, either in town or country, 

 which largely compensates for its clinging or choking chill. 

 Birds call close at hand, and we come on them silently 

 and unforeseen ; a sheep coughing or sneezing on the hill- 

 side fills the solitude with unaccountable sounds ; its body 

 magnified in the haze seems as large as a bullock, or, standing 

 endways, takes the shape of a man. There is something 

 restrained and self-sufficient about these covert days which 

 well suits the temperate English climate. After summer's 



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