238 HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS. 
We found the roads from Lake Keuka to the head 
of Lake Seneca in excellent condition. The scenery 
along the way was pleasantly diversified with fields and 
woods, sharp hills and fertile little valleys. Clouds and 
sunshine alternated during the forenoon, and the wind 
was equally variable. It Was pleasant to see the shad- 
ows and sunshine chasing each other over the billowy 
fields of grain and unmown meadows. One could 
plainly see the spots in each that were rankest or 
thinnest by the way in which they were moved by the 
wind. The landscape was full of color—yellow stubble- 
fields, gray meadows of over-ripe grass, oat fields of the 
finest shades of light green, and, handsomest of all, the 
fields of corn with drooping leaves that look like 
rich ribbons of green satin. Corn is beautiful in growth, 
in all stages, from the little green leaf, just peeping out 
of the brown earth, to the fluted columns surmounted 
with golden grain. 
Late in the afternoon we meta bevy of pretty young 
girls returning from a rural picnic. Their bright gar- 
ments, with bows and ribbons fluttering in the breeze, 
seemed almost a part of themselves. The sight made 
one think of Emerson’s expression: “The delicious 
faces of children, and the beauty of young school girls.” 
It made one glad to look upon them and witness their 
unrepressed joyousness. They answered our few ques- 
tions about the way with a frankness that was exhila- 
eating. Surely there is no pleasanter sight than a com- 
pany of fair, young girls in their holiday attire, unless 
it be a company of fairer older ones. 
