IN LEAFLESS WOODS. 



of the trees desires from time to time to 

 catch some glimpse of the very limbs and 

 joints of oak or maple to get rid of the 

 green covering in favour of the naked under- 

 lying reality. So only can one enjoy the 

 delicate lissom twigs of the silver birch, 

 etched in tender grey against the hard blue 

 sky ; so only can one observe the forked 

 upright branches of the Lombardy poplar, 

 like natural candelabra, in striking contrast 

 with the long hanging boughs of the weep- 

 ing-willow, divided and subdivided into 

 pendulous twigs, and losing themselves at 

 last in fine spray of living threads, like a 

 wind-driven cataract. Every kind of forest- 

 dweller has thus its own special beauty of 

 architectural plan ; and every one of them 

 can be realized in all its naked grace and 

 variety of outline only when relieved of the 

 glorious green weight that so richly con- 

 cealed it. 



And bare boughs are instructive, too, as 

 well as beautiful. They suggest to one the 



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