II. 

 PROPHETIC AUTUMN. 



THE year used once to begin in March. 

 That was simple and natural to let it start 

 on its course with the first warmer breath 

 of returning spring. It begins now in 

 January which has nothing to recommend 

 it. I am not sure that Nature does not 

 show us it really begins on the first of 

 October. 



" October ! " you cry, " when all is changing 

 and dying! when trees shed their leaves, 

 when creepers crimson, when summer singers 

 desert our woods, when flowers grow scanty 

 in field or hedgerow ! What promise then 

 of spring ? What glad signs of a beginning ? " 



Even so things look at a superficial glance. 

 10 



