1074 



THE NATURE BOOK 



misty veils withdrawn, the sky is brilliant 

 gold, and saffron tints suffuse the lirma- 

 ment above. Then comes the moment 

 when, behind the gold-crowned ridge, 

 the dazzling ray shoots up, close followed 

 by the burnished sun. 



In the dew-pearled pastures quietly the 

 cattle have risen, contentedly they feed. 

 With what a generous hand hath Nature 

 jewelled the common grass, each moist, 

 green blade bright-set with hquid ghs- 

 tening gems — soul sweetness from the 

 ground effused to permeate the summer 

 air with pure, refreshing fragrance ! The 

 timid rabbits frisk and scamper o'er the 

 glittering lea. One moment a lapwing 

 sweeps so near, you start at the strong 

 swish, swish of wings ; and the next it 

 is high and away a field's length, doubhng 

 back " pee-wee-p, pee-weet." Far in the 



deepening blue a lark sings the matin of 

 praise : 



" SwL'ct is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, 

 With charm of earliest birds." 



In and out among the hills, along a 

 hollow, winds the stream. From the hot 

 and dusty highway its tortuous course, 

 like a broken thread of sparkUng silver, 

 issuing from the moor, is lost to view the 

 while it tumbles splashing, frothing 

 through the rocky glen ; then, seen 

 again, is rippling in the woods and gliding 

 o'er the meadows. It draws hke a magnet. 

 Ever there so much for eye and mind 

 to dwell upon ; never is the summer day 

 long enough by the stream. 



Going one way the road leads between 

 pasture slopes with yellow ragwort, sturdy 

 Scotch thistles, and the lowly field madder 



I'holografh by K A. Slxij; 



"AMONG THE MARSH PLUME THISTLES." 



