AUTUMN 



ern side of the woods like flocks of 

 birds and covered the fallow ground 

 with a layer of variegated colour. This 

 first wind of Autumn is a playful thing, 

 seeming to delight in loosing the glory 

 of the trees and casting it about. It is 

 an exhilarating feeling to be in the 

 midst of the driving leaves and watch 

 them racing and sliding down the wind 

 currents, to be caught by another and 

 lifted up and driven onward out of 

 sight. Before this first wind comes and 

 while the nuts are still upon the trees, 

 is the time to gather the " beech mast." 

 Back in those childhood days the 

 youngsters, laden with poles, blankets, 

 sheets, quilts or anything that was 

 handy and could be secreted from the 

 house, visited the Beech Woods, and 

 the " easy climbers " sought out — trees 

 having limbs within reach. The sheets 

 were spread on the ground, and the 

 fun began. The boys shinned up the 

 trees and shook and pounded the limbs, 

 while the girls below danced and 

 shouted to the merry rain of nuts. 

 Each spreading limb was relieved of its 

 load, and the boys vied with each other 

 73 



