286 THROUGH LIBRARY WINDOWS 



the dry brown leaves as the shifting breeze 

 empties them out of the frost-opened burrs. 

 Skirting the wood's edge is a hazel thicket, and 

 we fill our pockets amid the sharp scoldings of 

 some squirrels. The melodious whistle of 

 Bob White challenges the listening ear and 

 quickens the hunter's step and pulse-beat ; while 

 from the more secluded thickets the ruffled 

 grouse and partridge rise with a startled whurr 

 at the crackling steps of the intruder. The 

 charm of these October days grows on one as 

 he wanders through copse and field, so much of 

 fresh interest at every turn, though he has seen 

 it all many times. October's mande fits with 

 an easy grace, and its color-patterns are highly 

 oriental. What sunset skies commanding ad- 

 miration and compelling the artist's despair. 



Along the rail and stone fences the Virginia 

 Creeper flushes scarlet and arrests the eye, the 

 Sumacs are dropping bits of leafy fire on the 

 sobering grass, the woodpeckers are hammering 

 for fat grubs and fare well; wild geese "cronk" 

 it overhead in their orderly southern flight; 

 northern spys are taking on their final touch of 

 crimsoning; pippins are absorbing their last 

 gold sunshine, baldwins are sober red and 

 hardening for winter, nasturtiums covered on 

 frosty nights because we would have their rich 



