CHAPTER XVIII. 



THESE OCTOBER DAYS. 



"By all the lovely tokens 

 October days are here, 

 With Summer's best of wealth 

 And Autumn's best of cheer" 



September ushered in all the signs of fall 

 and now colors of the upper end of the spec- 

 trum are scattered along the hillsides and down 

 over the pastures and meadows. Everywhere 

 the flaming sumach and the yellowing birches 

 and crimsoning maples and challenging reds of 

 the dogwood and the russet browns of all the 

 fields are lavishly in evidence. For a little 

 there is a halt in the progress of this autumnal 

 glory, for October must reign in her splendor 

 and in her own way adjust all nature to the 

 coming change. Everywhere is the riot of 

 purple and gold, lavender and lemon, and they 

 fairly storm our pleasurable senses. These 

 high colorings are October's assets, her wealth 

 of beauty and glory. I never can feel the som- 

 berness of October as some. To tell it is full 

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