THE CHARM OF GARDENS 



This last, of course, in wet countries, for in dry 

 places, as in meadows under southern mountains, there 

 is a perfect orchestra of rasping crickets in the grass 

 But in the north, on the most silent and golden days, 

 they say that the chirrup of a cricket foretells rain. 

 Just as they say : 



3 

 As hedgehogs do foresee evening storms 

 So wise men are for fortune still prepared. 



This they say, because the story runs that a hedge- 

 hog builds a nest with the opening made to face the 

 mildest quarter thereabout, and the back to the most 

 prevalent wind. 



Again, and this a sign everybody knows : 



4 

 That distant hills look near. » 



As indeed they do before rain, and many times one 

 hears — " such a place is too clear to-day " — or, " One 

 can see such a land much too well," and this means 

 near rain. 



Like the swallows so do rooks change their flight 

 before rain, and so, also, do plover, for it is noticed : 



5 



That rooks will glide low on the wind, and drop quickly. 

 And plover fly in shape almost as a kite and will not rise 

 high, one or two of the flock being posted sentinels at the 

 tail of the kite formation. 



Then, if the shepherd is near to a dew-pit, or any 

 water meadow, or passing by a roadside ditch he will 

 notice : 



6 

 That toads will walk out across the road. And frogs will 



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