II 



DECEMBER BY LAND AND SEA 



DOWN one of the muddy rain-soaked 

 roads of an old Rhode Island town 

 I splashed, as the southwest wind drove 

 the cold drizzle of a December's storm 

 against my face. There are lessons to 

 be learned in all weathers out-of-doors, 

 and Nature puts on new aspects for each 

 phase of the heavens. The roadside was 

 aflame in places with the vermilion berries 

 of the black alder, the dark crimson spires 

 of the sumac gave another bit of color to 

 the foreground. The waters of Narra- 

 gansett Bay were leaden save for a few 

 waves that foamed into white caps on 

 the further shore. Mount Hope was 

 wrapped in mist as were the Tiverton and 

 the Rhode Island hills. Although the 

 hollows were piled with the glory of the 

 autumn woods, there was a great deal of 

 color still warming the winter landscape 

 with its ruddy glow. 



