THROUGH LIBRARY WINDOWS 223 



sparks would rise and diamond the clouds in 

 extra brilliance ! Had it been night what a showy- 

 pyrotechnic display. What types of evanes- 

 cence, changing, capricious, weightless — evan- 

 ished! Like and yet unlike the clouds; clouds 

 oft have angles, smoke is always in curves; on 

 the wind-side clouds edged and frilled, but the 

 tenuity of smoke forbids this, clouds cling to- 

 gether and roll on in great masses, ordinary 

 smoke lacks cohesion and disintegrates. Yet 

 often have we noticed the soft coal smoke from 

 an ocean steamer far out at sea rolling on and 

 clinging together for miles, reaching out over 

 the waters like some black demon. 



The brush heap had burned down, boyhood 

 memories like fairies had fled, imagination had 

 luxuriated in a wild revel and spent its ener- 

 gies ; I was rested and refreshed and sought the 

 pasture's side-hill. 



"Only a bank of simple weeds, 

 Of tangled grass and slender wind-blown 



reeds, 

 And yet a world of beauty garners there." 



At once the Mulleins were in evidence. Like 

 real sentries, tall and slim, standing guard over 

 nothing. What lazy work, poor mulleins, once 



