190 OLD PLYMOUTH TRAILS 



with the languor of midsummer. Even the 

 tender pink orchid blooms of arethusa lingered 

 among the gi'asses, in shadowy, cool-rooted spots, 

 though the arethusa begins to bloom there in late 

 May. Hardly have hardback and meadow- 

 sweet, which are mid-'summer plants, reached the 

 fulness of mature bloom, so softly does the spring 

 linger in this sheltered spot, so gently does the 

 summer press her fervor on spring-watered 

 sphagnum. 



Crowding up among these have come green 

 sprigs from perennial roots which are to bear on 

 their tops yellow heads of goldenrod and loose 

 panicles of purple asters. Yet on the day before 

 the rain hardly had the green of the goldenrod 

 tips become sun-glinted with yellow, scarcely an 

 aster had lifted long lashes far enough so that 

 you could see the iris beneath. After the rain 

 the heads which had drooped so low in rev- 

 erence before it rose in the clear sun and the 

 whole meadow was cloth of gold where before it 

 had been olive green with ripe grass tips, while 

 all among the gold the blue asters came out like 

 stars on a frosty evening, pricking through the 

 pale glow of sunset. The meadow has lacked 

 vivid color masses since June. Now it is a veri- 



