OCTOBER 53 



thoroughly deserves it, as it is one of the best of its kind, 

 and must be an especial favourite with all nature lovers. 

 Its charm is of rather a different kind from either of the 

 other two. The writing is beautiful, and the quotations 

 are pointed and chosen with literary taste and knowledge. 

 Here are two sentences which I give in order that the 

 charm may be felt. One is dated ' May 22nd,' for the 

 book is arranged in months, which seems to me the 

 only natural system when speaking of the year's produce 

 and colour-effects in field, wood, or garden : 



'In the present general outburst of vernal foliage 

 we naturally forget that the evergreens, as well as 

 the deciduous trees, are putting forth their new leaves. 

 This is one of those lesser beauties of the spring, easily 

 overlooked, but full of interest when once observed. The 

 yew-tree now shows itself as a mass of leafage, so dark as 

 to be almost black, but wearing a fringe of yellowish- 

 green ; the box has six or seven bright new leaves at the 

 end of each spray, in sharp contrast with the sombre but 

 polished growth of last year ; the ivy buds are silver-gray, 

 like the willow ; those of the holly are edged with red, 

 and the rhododendron is a light green. In that delight- 

 fully child-like carol of Kit Marlowe, which gave such 

 pleasure to the gentle soul of dear old Izaak Walton, 

 the Passionate Shepherd promises to his Love, 



A belt of straw and ivy buds, 

 With coral clasps and amber studs.' 



Once every year in the autumn, and sometimes twice 

 I go to the east coast, and the house is so absolutely on 

 the seashore that this description in ' Country Pleasures ' 

 exactly suits what I feel when I am there. It is, I think, 

 so good that it may be an inducement for my readers to 

 get the book for themselves : ' It is often said that the 

 sea is both monotonous and melancholy, but the longer 



