Down North and Up Along 
everlasting, and where uncut they were over- 
grown with silvery, tawny grass. 
One expected to see sheep scampering over 
the near hills as the train approached and un- 
concernedly nibbling on the distant ones, but 
this was not the case. Only here and there a 
woolly brother or two or three were to be seen 
upon these exquisite flower-painted heights. 
Acres of fireweed had taken possession of 
the burned tracts along the side of the rail- 
road, mercifully covering the naked and scarred 
earth, as is their habit, their long pods curling 
open in a charming tracery of brown lines and 
freeing glistening clouds of silky white plumed 
seeds, to fly on the wind and find out other 
sore spots that needed their redeeming presence. 
The earth was not greatly harassed by culti- 
vation ; grass grew freely, making now a tawny 
background to the coloured patterns of golden- 
rod, asters, and everlasting. 
The little village of Hopewell lies among 
the hills in the happiest manner, in apparent 
realisation of the wish expressed in its name. 
Its houses are vine-covered, as hope-well houses 
ought to be, and there are flowers to profusion 
in the dooryards, — real Digby flowers. 
150 
