SEPTEMBER. 237 



fathers were; show us a fine contrast with the 

 modern tribes dwelling below and around them ; 

 and show us, moreover, how adverse is the spirit 

 of the mountain to mutability, and that there 

 the fiery heart of Freedom is found for ever. 



Swallows now betray symptoms of their ap- 

 proaching departure, flying in large flocks, set- 

 tling on the ground in the fields in vast num- 

 bers, whither the increasing dullness of the air 

 has driven the flies, or clustering on the tops of 

 houses, or the dead boughs of trees, making a 

 low universal sort of warble. The robin renews 

 his note, the stone-curlew clamours at the be- 

 ginning of this month, wood-owls hoot, hares 

 congregate, and young blackbirds and thrushes 

 may be heard in copses, essaying their first 

 powers of song. Hops are gathered in this 

 month as well as in the last. Nuts are per- 

 fectly ripe in the woods ; and of all the plea- 

 sures of rural life few can surpass the enjoyment 

 of nutting. Pleasant is it all times to wander 

 in woods, 



Where there 's neither suit nor plea, 



But only the wild creatures and many a spreading tree : 



especially pleasant is it at this season, — their 

 tempered gloom, their silence, the wild cries 

 that flit ever and anon through them, the leaves 

 which alreaoy rustle to the tread, all is full 

 of a thoughtful pleasantness. And then those 



