RURAL HOURS. 
far more fancies of this sort than any other with which we aa-e 
acquainted in this neigliborhood. 
Yellow Gerardias are in flower still in the woods, and so is the 
Hawk- wort. The blue Gentian is also in bloom now ; though 
not common, it is found in spots about the lake. 
We gathered, this afternoon, some flowers of the partridge- 
berry and squaw-vine, the only spring blossoms still found in the 
woods. Directly in the path, as we were going up Mount , we 
also found a large dragon's-claw, or corallarhiza ; its brown stalk 
and flowers measured about fifteen inches in height, and it was 
divided into eight leafless branches. 
Thursday, 1th. — Cooler. Went do-\vn to the great meadow for 
lady's tresses, which grow there plentifully. Pretty and fragrant, 
these flowers are not unlike an autumn lily of the valley ; one is 
puzzled to know why they should be called lady's tresses — possi- 
bly from the spiral twist of the flowers on the stalk. Gathered 
also a fine bunch of purple asters, and golden bur-marigolds ; these 
last were slightly fragrant. 
This evenino' we kindled our autumn fires. 
Friday, 8th. — Lovely day; warm, silvery mist, gradually clear- 
ing to soft sunshine. Passed a charming morning at the Cliffs. 
The wych-hazel is in bloom ; brown nuts and yellow flowers on 
the same twig. Gathered some speckled-jewels, partridge-berry, 
and squaw-vine blossoms. Found a purple rose-raspberry in flow- 
er ; it is always pleasant to meet these late flowers, unlooked-for 
favors as they are. A year or two since the wild roses on this 
road flowered in September, a second bloom ; and the same sea- 
son a number of our earlier garden roses bore flowers the second 
time as late as the 16th of September. 
