WINTER MOONLIGHT. 131 



country, it may be of moonlit fields and woods, or 

 of a sparsely-inhabited region, where the twinkle of 

 scattered lights gives a human interest to the scene. 

 Now the eye is attracted by the different 

 forms of the spray, whether of tree or bush, 

 exposed in its wintry beauty ; now by the white 

 walls of house or farm building ; now by the stUl 

 forms of cattle or sheep, in harmony both with 

 the scene and with its silence. The shadows of 

 the taller trees, thrown by the moon in its early 

 rising, are so long that they stretch almost across 

 the meadows — shadows broad or narrow, according 

 to the size of the tree-heads. Whenever clear 

 water is passed, it brilliantly reflects the moonlight, 

 and flashes like molten silver ; when it fills the 

 intersecting trenches of meadows, its effect is 

 often striking — ^the grassy swards being thrown 

 up in strong relief against the silver flash of the 

 water. The effect is greatest where the streams 

 of water are broad ; and when these are running, 

 the appearance is like that of liquid silver in 

 motion. A great solemnity seems to rest upon 

 the Elms, standing in the hedges in silent leafless 

 rows or in groups. 



K 2 



