J 12 WILD CLEMATIS. 



Again the gentian dares unfold 

 Blue fringes closed against the cold ; 

 Again, in mossy solitudes, 

 The glimmering aster lights the woods. 



One mass of sunshine glows the beech ; 

 Great oaks, in scarlet drapery, reach 

 Across the crimson blackberry vine, 

 Toward purple ash and sombre pine. 



The orange-tinted sassafras 

 With quaintest foliage strews the grass ; 

 Witch-hazel shakes her gold curls out, 

 'Mid the red maple's flying rout. 



Our forests, that so lately stood 

 Like any green familiar wood, 

 Aladdin's fabulous tale repeat ; 

 The trees drop jewels at our feet. 



With every day some splendor strange ! 

 With every hour some subtle change ! 

 Of our plain world how could we guess 

 Such miracles of loveliness ? 



