A CAPRICIOUS LEAF. 
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to touch the grass ; the same branches which are now hanging over 
the turf, in winter rise two or three feet above it. 
The three-thorned acacia, or honey locust, as it is sometimes 
called, if left to its natural growth, will also follow the same 
fashion, its lower branches drooping gracefully, until their long 
leaves sweep the grass. There is a young untrimmed tree of this 
kind in the village, a perfect picture in its way, so prettily branched, 
with its foliage sweeping the ground. As a general thing, are not 
all our trees too much trimmed in tliis country ? 
Friday, 6 th. — Warm, half-cloudy day ; light, fitful airs, which 
set the leaves dancing here and there without swaying the 
branches. Of a still, summer's day, Avhen the foliage generally 
is quiet, the eye is at times attracted by a solitary leaf, or a small 
twig dancing merrily, as though bitten by a tarantula, to say nothing 
of aspen leaves, which are never at rest. The leaves of the ma- 
ples, on their long stalks, are much given to this trick ; so are the 
white birches, and the scarlet oaks, and so is the fern also. This 
fluttering is no doubt caused by some light puff of air setting tlie 
leaf in motion, and then dying away without any regular current 
to follow its course ; the capricious movement continues until the 
force of the impulse is exhausted, and the giddy leaf has tired 
itself out. At times the effect is quite singular, a single leaf or 
two in rapid movement, all else still and calm ; and on.e might 
fancy Puck, or some other mischievous elf, sitting astride the stem, 
shaking his sides with laughter at the expense of the bewildered 
spectator. 
Saturday, 7th. — Clear, warm weather. Thermometer 78 in the 
shade. 
The rose-bushes about the village gardens are suffering from 
