THE BEECH WOODS 



in seeing which special limb yielded 

 the most and made the most noise when 

 the nuts fell on the ground below. The 

 rough husks were sorted out and 

 thrown away, and the usual noisy dis- 

 cussion developed as to who should 

 receive the largest share. But eventu- 

 ally this was settled to the mutual sat- 

 isfaction of all, and the happy com- 

 pany frolicked homeward, each with a 

 store of precious brown cubes. 



The havoc of the wind is soon shown 

 by the bare trees among those that 

 yield their leaves only after the heavy 

 frosts have sent them drifting down. 

 The pools and the creeks were now 

 filled by the rains that came from the 

 East and hung for days about the hori- 

 zon. From the time the creek resumed 

 its customary course it seemed to at- 

 tract attention from the woods. Leaves 

 in dainty tints of every colour floated 

 upon its surface or sailed gracefully 

 with its happy tide. The goldenrod 

 swung its heavy tops from the bank 

 of the old pond and cast a gilded image 

 in the mirrored surface. Here the 

 asters grew in abundance with a 

 74 



