432 
RURAL HOURS. 
this moment ! These noble trees always look grandly against the 
morning and evening sky ; the hills stand so near us on either 
side, and the pines are of such a height and size, that we see 
them very clearly, their limbs and foliage drawn in dark relief 
against the glowing sky. 
Tuesday, \%ih. — Most charming day; all but too warm. 
Thermometer GC. Long walk over the hills. The farmei-s say 
winter never comes until the streams are full ; they have been 
very low all through the autumn, but now they are filled to the 
brim. The river shows more than usual, winding tlirough the 
leafless valley. This is in truth a protracted Indian summer; mild 
airs, with soft, hazy sunshine. Dandelions are in full flower by 
the road-side ; cows and sheep are feeding in the pastures. They 
are ploughing on many farms ; the young wheat-fields are beau- 
tiful in vivid verdui'e. 
In the woods we found many green things ; all the mosses and 
little evergreen plants are beautifully fresh ; many of the feather 
mosses are in flower. The pipsissiwa and ground-laurel are in 
bud ; the last has its buds full-sized, and tlie calyx opening to 
show the tips of the flowers, but these are only faintly touclied 
with pink on the edge ; unfolding them, we found the petals still 
green within. It is very possible that some vaolets may be in 
flower here and there, although we did not see any ; but the au- 
tumn before last violets were gathered here the first days in De- 
cember, though generally, this month is wholly flowerless in our 
neighborhood. 
We passed a cart standing in the woods, well loaded with Christ- 
mas greens, for our parish cliurch. Pine and lieralock are the 
branches commonly used among us for the purpose ; the hemlock, 
