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XXI. 



THE FALL OF THE LEAF. 



ALREADY the trees on the hillside are begin- 

 ning to assume their autumnal tints. Down 

 in the valley, it is true, beside the artificial 

 water in the park, the oaks, the willows, and 

 the ash trees are still quite green ; but higher 

 up among the slopes, where the wind beats 

 harder and the nights even now begin to grow 

 chilly, the limes and chestnuts have put on 

 their first pale streaks of yellow, the beeches 

 have turned in places to a rich brown, and 

 the mountain ashes are faintly purpling 

 against the glowing bunches of their scarlet 

 berries. On all the deciduous trees, indeed, 

 one can see that the living protoplasm is just 



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