TIMES AND SEASONS. 



twelve versts, which afforded me a fine view of the 

 beautiful scenery on and beyond the Bouchtaima 

 river. The effect of this scene was magnificent ; as 

 the sun was sinking immediately behind one of the 

 high conical mountains, I beheld the great fiery 

 orb descend nearly over the centre of this mighty 

 cone, presenting a singular appearance. Presently 

 its long deep shadow crept over the lower hills, 

 and soon extended far into the plain, till at length 

 the place on which I stood received its cold gray 

 tone. The mountains to the right and left were 

 still shining in his golden light ; the snowy peaks 

 of the Cholsoum appearing like frosted silver cut 

 out against the clear blue sky. Gradually the 

 shades of evening crept up the mountain-sides; 

 one bright spot after another vanished, until at 

 length all was in shadowy gray, except the snowy 

 peaks. As the sun sank lower, a pale rose tint 

 spread over their snowy mantles, deepening to 

 a light crimson, and then a darker tone when the 

 highest shone out, as sparkling as a ruby; and 

 at last, for only a few minutes, it appeared like a 

 crimson star.''* 



We come back from scenes so gorgeous, to quiet, 

 homely England. How pleasant to the school- 

 boy, just infected with the entomological mania, 

 is an evening hour in June devoted to "niothingl" 

 An hour before sunset he had been seen mysteri- 

 ously to leave home, carrying a cup filled with a 

 mixture of beer and treacle. With this he had 

 bent his steps to the edge of a wood, and with a 

 painter's brush had bedaubed the trunks of several 

 large trees, much to the bewilderment of the 

 woodman and his dog. Now the sun is going 

 down like a glowing coal behind the hill, and the 

 youthful savant again seeks the scene of his 



♦Atkinson's M Siberia," p. 321. 

 31 



