THE BEECH WOODS 



the deepening chrome came the great 

 hush of evening, so eloquent with rest 

 and mystery. For in the gloom of 

 Night the forest creatures, full of pent- 

 up energy, moved furtively about with- 

 in it, and yet were a part of this calm, 

 waiting silence. 



One June evening found the Neigh- 

 bour walking up the path in the woods 

 just as the sun was sending its last 

 gleams through the lace-work of foli- 

 age. An odd song was to be heard near 

 the ovenbird's nest, and the silver 

 rounds of the veery, with its elusive 

 beauty, came echoing through the gray 

 archways of the listening woods. After 

 the shades of dusk advanced from the 

 borders of the creek and enveloped the 

 trees standing isolated in the flats, the 

 fireflies began to flash and gleam their 

 eerie, phosphorescent lights in waver- 

 ing flight. As the darkness settled, the 

 luminous tiny flashes increased until 

 the sombre veil that hung over the open 

 marsh was animated with hundreds of 

 these glowing lights. 



Up in the high woods another won- 

 der of the insect world was taking 

 112 



