A^ i HE YEAR PASSES 



The crisp rustle of the leaves grows 

 more pleasing as the brown transi- 

 tory covering deepens in the hollows 

 and yields to the caprices of vagrant 

 winds. Where the Red Maple still 

 displays its foliage it is the most 

 brilliant of forest trees. Every leaf has a special 

 design in crimson, yellow, and green. Some are 

 daintily tipped with the richest hues, others vary 

 their brilliant reds with a tracery of pale yellow and 

 surviving green, while others show a uniform richness 

 of colour in every vein and fibre. When the sun looks 

 through and the wind pulls at the clinging foliage the 

 masses of colour glow and gleam in vivid intensity. 

 Oaks still cling to their rich and varied foliage, and 

 seem scarcely to miss their generous contribution 

 to the crisp covering on the ground. They like to 

 retain their leaves, and often a brown bunch will 

 remain here and there throughout the winter, gather- 

 ing a transient covering of snow from every storm. 

 In this they show a sympathy with some of their 



198 



