My First Summer 



celestial can I conceive. How gently the 

 winds blow ! Scarce can these tranquil air- 

 currents be called winds. They seem the very 

 breath of Nature, whispering peace to every 

 living thing. Down in the camp dell there 

 is no swaying of tree-tops ; most of the time 

 not a leaf moves. I don't remember having 

 seen a single lily swinging on its stalk, though 

 they are so tall the least breeze would rock 

 them. What grand bells these lilies have! 

 Some of them big enough for children's bon- 

 nets. I have been sketching them, and would 

 fain draw every leaf of their wide shining 

 whorls and every curved and spotted petal. 

 More beautiful, better kept gardens cannot 

 be imagined. The species is Lilium parda- 

 linum, five to six feet high, leaf- whorls a foot 

 wide, flowers about six inches wide, bright 

 orange, purple spotted in the throat, seg- 

 ments revolute a majestic plant. 



June 12. A slight sprinkle of rain, 

 large drops far apart, falling with hearty pat 

 and plash on leaves and stones and into the 

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