40 



BLACKTHORN. 



with its " laiiihs' tails," while the elms bear a load of red blossom, 

 and in the woods is a carpet of white anemones powdered with 

 primroses. 



But out in the open, the only tiowers to be seen are those which 



cover tfic leafless branches of the Blackthorn like a sprinkling of snow- 

 flakes. This, each year, is its moment <>t grace, (i nailed and twistetl, 

 dwarfed and unlovely, the tree crouches at the edge ot the moor, 

 where a wall affords it a mere [iretence of slielter. Its very shade 



