WHEN ORCHARDS BLOOM 25 



the contrasts of light and shade are keen- 

 ly dramatic. Here are laurels, whose 

 faithful leaves have braved the winter; 

 the hop-hornbeam, poplar, oak, and 

 hickory, chestnut, ash, beech, and 

 towering hemlock trees. The ground- 

 pine pierces the mould with its per- 

 sistent antennae-like stems, and the 

 bellwort vibrates beside the useful 

 wintergreen, which is not yet in flower. 

 Over the river hangs a ruined mill, 

 battered by ice and wind; and all 

 about are worn millstones, some prop- 

 ping up the mill, and others crumbling 

 away and overgrown by moss and ferns. 

 Below it the river dashing through the 

 gorge is spanned by a single rough- 

 hewn tree, to bridge the way for chil- 

 dren going through the woods to 

 school; beyond the stream the hill 

 ascends. 



Not a bird note is heard, for topping 



