74 



PASTORAL DAYS. 



There are magnificent rock-maples too, and silver-maples that shake 

 down their little swarms of winged seeds. Tulip-trees and spotted button- 



ALONG THE HOUSATOMC. 



row side by 



side, and quivering as- 

 pens and white poplars 

 are seen at every clear- 

 ing. There are yellow birch-trunks frayed out with the wind, and great 

 snake-like stems of grape-vine, that twist and writhe among the branches 

 of the trees. There are hop hornbeams, and chestnuts, and — But there 

 is no need to enumerate them all. Just think of every New England tree 

 you ever knew, and add a score besides, and you will form a slight idea 

 of the varied verdure that hems in this charming Housatonic drive, with 

 its rocky roadside embroidered in trickling moss and fumitory ; and rose- 

 flowered mountain-raspberry growing so close upon the road that your 

 pony takes a wayward nip, and plucks its blossomed tip as he passes. 



Now comes an open level, with wide, expansive views, where every 

 turn upon the road brings its fresh surprise, as some new combination 

 of hazy mountain landscape towers above the distant river bend ; and 

 the flitting cloud shadows lead their capricious, undulating chase across 

 the wooded slopes. The roadsides here are full of everchanging beauties 

 too, with their trimmings of ornamental sunflowers, their picturesque old 



