GOLDEN-ROD 
OBODY has been considerate enough of a 
N wise curiosity to tell us why in autumn the 
purples and yellows are the lavish colors. | 
would thank some of the knowing for such 
item of information. But certain | am that 
the autumn flowers riot in yellow hues. They 
have caught the sun in their heart through 
all the golden summer,—have caught every 
beam coming their way and held each as the 
naiads held fair Hylas what time he bathed 
him in Scamander, while his 
purple chlamys lay upon the 
shore. The autumn flowers 
seem never to forget a syllable 
of sunlight any more than love 
forgets a syllable of wooing; and in the 
Fall in blooming they rehearse all 
they have heard, as lovers tell 
each other all the sweet words the other had written 
or said, while each listening says, ‘‘Did I say that? 
and when? and you remembered?'’—and then they 
kiss each other on the lips. So the sunflowers and 
black-eyed susans and the golden-rods save up and 
rehearse the sunshine of the year. Bless them for aa 
their tenacious memories. 
Golden-rod may be deleterious to hay fever 
votaries, but is sympathetic and friendly to those 
of us who indulge in no such lachrymose luxury. 
Well people have some rights, though they are 
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