158 
THE WANING YEAR 
Summer's fullness is scarcely realised when the 
Sugar Maple flashes the signal of the passing year* 
Against the solid masses of varied green a bright 
splash of red glows unexpectedly in the sun, a 
reminder of perpetual change even in the richest 
abundance of growth* In the inspiring atmosphere 
of spring there is the spirit of evanescence* Hope and 
promise leave no room for thoughts of permanence 
and stability* But in the rich abundance of summer's 
meridian, when every tree is a bank of foliage, and 
the stroller wades through an entanglement of Sweet 
Clover, with promising Asters and Golden-rods, 
when every sluggish stream is stifled with Rushes 
or spread with a carpet of Water Lily leaves, when 
swamps and marshes are rich with luxuriant vegeta- 
tion and breathe a warm odour of life and growth, 
when the familiar early flowers have given place to 
ripe or ripening berries and seeds, and nature's full 
fruition is all about, the longing hope of permanence 
steals on imperceptibly* The impatience of spring 
is gone, summer is at its best, and why should its 
perfection not endure i Long preparation has brought 
forth nature's masterpiece* Is there no pause for the 
