SUMMEE 



the water drops still clinging to them. 

 In the great battle just passed the 

 woods had lost one of its number, but 

 not a beech, for the beech tree is im- 

 mune to lightning. Over near the 

 eastern fence a tall pine had been 

 struck and cut clean in two, and the 

 whole upper part thrown some dis- 

 tance from the remaining stub. Great 

 chips lay strewn about and the scent 

 of fresh pine filled the air. 



Between alternate days of stereo- 

 scopic clearness and hazy sunshine, 

 August slowly drifted to its close. 

 Across the golden stubble, bright with 

 light, the woods stood out in bold relief, 

 and from the distance just discernible 

 the old red maple's crimson flag pro- 

 claimed the Summer's end. The blue- 

 birds flashed about the fields in strag- 

 gling flocks, adding their melancholy 

 cries and restless flights to other hints 

 of early Autumn. The families of fea- 

 thered folk in the woods were full 

 grown, and already home ties were 

 broken and the nests deserted. The 

 woods were alive with young birds 

 testing their voices and trying their 

 wings for the long flight Southward. 

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