IN THE PINES. 



237 



extricated from beneath the black mud 

 and left to dry. The rains had washed 

 off the surplus mud, and I saw a large, 

 well-preserved fern closely adhering to 

 its surface. 



But lest I get beyond my depth in 

 the red waters, I will once more return 

 to the glorious sunlight in the open 

 pines. While I have been wander- 

 ing amid the dark c 

 cedars, and lost in 

 speculation, the 

 pines have come 

 out in May-day at- 

 tire — full gala dress. Brilliant 

 clusters of pink and white 

 •laurel {Kalmia lati- 

 folid) as far as the 

 eye can reach, and grace- 

 ful drooping panicles of 

 the pure white blossoms of 

 the fringe -tree, add their 

 charms to light up this en- 

 chanted garden. The heavy 

 odor of the mag- 

 nolia tells us of 

 its close proxim- 

 ity. And now we 

 come to another of 





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