XXXV 



OCTOBER DAYS 



FIELDS as green as when the summer 

 birds caroled above them, woods more 

 gorgeous with innumerable hues and 

 tints of ripening leaves than a blooming 

 parterre, are spread beneath the azure 

 sky, whose deepest color is reflected 

 with intenser blue in lake and stream. 

 In them against this color are set the 

 scarlet and gold of every tree upon their 

 brinks, the painted hills, the clear-cut 

 mountain peaks, all downward pointing 

 to the depths of this nether sky. 



Overhead, thistledown and the silken 

 balloon of the milkweed float on their 

 zephyr - wafted course, silver motes 

 against the blue ; and above them are 

 the black cohorts of crows in their strag- 

 gling retreat to softer climes. Now the 

 dark column moves steadily onward, now 

 veers in confusion from some, suspected 

 or discovered danger, or pauses to assail 

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