320 
RURAL HOURS. 
" borne aloft, 
Or sinking, as the light wind lives or dies." 
Beautiful moonlight this evening, with a decided frosty feeling 
in the air. The moon was determined to show us what she could 
do toward lighting up the autumn foliage at night ; the effect was 
singular, as seen in the trees about the lawn. A dreamy fugitive 
coloring of scarlet and yellow seemed to be thrown over the 
sumachs and maples, near the house ; and even upon the hills, in 
spots where the light fell with all its power, the difference between 
the colored belts of yellow or scarlet, and the darker evergreens, 
was quite perceptible. 
Monday, 9 th. — As the sun rose the lake lay buried in mist, 
which gradually rolled away, with sea-like ghmpses of the water. 
The leaves of the locusts are shrivelled by the frost, and dropping 
rapidly and silently from the branches ; several trees on the lawn 
will be all but bare to-night. The foliage always falls as much 
after a sharp frost as from the effect of a high wind ; such morn- 
ings as this the leaves drop calmly and silently to the earth, but 
the stormy winds tear them angrily from the trees, and drive them 
wildly from grove to grove, from field to field, ere they rest 
beneath their shroud of snow. 
The air is quite sharp this morning, and the birds come flutter- 
ing about the windows, as though it were more chilly than they 
liked out of doors ; Ave saw several robins, sparrows, and gold- 
finches about the windows in different parts of the house. One 
goldfinch, in full color, flew against the glass pane. One would 
gladly open to the little creatures, but if we approach the window 
they are frightened, and fly off again ; it is a pity we cannot 
make them understand they would be very welcome to warm 
