A SUMMER DRIVE IN THE LAKE COUNTRY. 905 
We shall see orchards and meadows, flocks of sheep, 
grazing young cattle, and cows coming from pasture. 
We shall hear the singing of birds, and in the newer 
places, the rhythmical clinking of the scythe and whet- 
stone. 
Our fourth day from home finds us less than fifty 
miles from Buffalo. Although in July everything wears 
the look of June. The fields were never fresher nor 
the woods greener. The sweet elders are just beginning 
to show their creamy white blossoms, and the tall tim- 
othy is in its first purple bloom. The farmer may 
worry about the late season and the backward corn, but 
the travelers who were held in the city until July feel 
grateful for the tardy appearance of the dry, sultry 
days. Hardly had we left the pavements of the city 
when the tinkling notes of the bobolinks and the 
liquid strains of the song sparrows fell gratefully on the 
ear, a pleasant welcome to the country roads, while the 
fragrance of the wild roses and the stronger scent of 
the new mown hay were in pleasant contrast to the 
odors of the cattle pens and rendering establishments 
that we passed through at East Buffalo. The roads were 
a little heavy, but the late rains had entirely laid the 
dust, and the morning air was as pure and sweet as one 
ever needs to breathe. Farmers were busy in the fields, 
afew making hay, but more with plow and hoe were 
coaxing their backward corn. Not many people were 
on the road. A few couples of young folks were on 
their way to the city to.attend a celebration. Among 
jo 
