7 2 FROM SPRING TO FALL. 



settled him. I've noted as he's bin tottery like 

 fur sum time. Massy o'alive, the pity on it ! There 

 he lays, blockin' up the river, an' the top on him 

 lopping in the medder t'other side. A lot o' things 

 lived in him an' about him, an' the critters '11 

 miss him sore, tell 'ee. They gets out o' their 

 homes same as we does at times. A couple o' 

 yaffles got young uns thear, near flyin' — I'd seen 

 'em out shinnin' round the limbs; but the jar o' 

 the fall has killed 'em, poor things." The wood- 

 peckers' home, a hole in the great stem, showed, 

 being above the water, and the old birds were 

 creeping and moping round, knowing full well that 

 it was all up with them. 



"An' them 'ere bellus bream," continued old 

 John, "wunt know how to take it, it was theer 

 reg'lar swimmin' place ; backards and forrards under 

 that 'ere old beech they went. They're bound to 

 drop down the river now, to find a fresh swim 

 arter this. Then some who comes to fish this 

 stream, will be sayin' there ain't no bream here. 

 The critters has to shift ; an' 'tis a very good job 

 as ivry 'cuckoo' don't know the ways o' them, 

 and whear they gits to." 



