146 Wald Life in a Southern County. 
the bright sunshine pouring on them. Yet another 
day or two, and the faint fleeting yellow has become 
fixed and certain, as the colours are deepened by the 
great artist. Only when the wind blows and the ears 
bend in those places where the breeze takes most, it 
looks paler because the under part of the ear is shown 
and part of the stalk. Finally comes that rich hue 
for which no exact similitude exists, In it there 
is somewhat of the red of the orange, somewhat of 
the tint of bronze, and somewhat of the hue of 
maize; but these are poor words wherewith to 
render fixed a colour that plays over the surface of 
this yellow sea, for if you take one, two, or a dozen 
ears you shall not find it, but must look abroad, 
and let your gaze travel to and fro. Nor is every 
field alike ; here are acres and acres more yellow, 
yonder a space whiter, beyond that a slope richly 
ruddy, according to the kind of seed that was sown. 
Out of the depths of what to it must seem an 
impenetrable jungle, from visiting a flower hidden 
below, a humble-bee climbs rapidly up a stalk a yard 
or two away while you look, and mounting to the top 
of the ear, as a post of vantage clear of obstructions, 
sails away upon the wind. 
‘We be all jolly vellers what vollers th’ plough!’ 
—but not to listen to, and take literally according to 
the letter of the discourse. It runs something like 
this the seasons through as the weather changes: 
‘Terrible dry weather this here to be sure ; we got so 
