Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-05-20

| around III indicating tnat CHESTNUT trceS
were near.
Crossing this dry cray wilderness we
went down to the border of low wooded
fiat where we found some plants with
white flowers almost fully opened. There
were three brosl oval pointed petals to
each flower, the petals about an inch and
a half long, and three broad oval pointed
leaves to the plant. the leaves somewhat
larger than the flower petals. have
heard them called "bath flowers" These
were white and scentless, but once found
in low hemlock woods fifty miles south
of here some bath flowers with dark pur-
pie blossoms having an intolerable dis
gusting odor
Near where the white flowers were
growing was thrifty and solitary wild
currant bush with smooth black bark
dotted with gray Its leaves were be-
ginning TO open.
Where the upland slope joined the low
level was honeysuckle almost fully
leaved out. 1t was the greenest thing in
the woods that we had yet seen. 1t
probably had an eye to making use of the
sunshine before the trees around and over
it put forth their leaves for then the hon
cysuclde would remain in deepest shade
until the big trees dropped their foliage
in autumn.
Near the brook, which had wound
around the upland through the woods, on
q small mound-like rise of ground, was
thickly settled little community of small
two leavcd plants with yellow hanging
bell or lily shaped flowers. Half of the
plants were in full bloom. Their leaves
were three or four inches long. about an
inch wide and terminated in a point
They were very smooth, veinleSs, and had
livid spots and Streaks on their upper
sides. The flower stem rose from between
the lower ends of the two leaves, and was
four or five inches high. The dropping
flower had six stamens, six petals and no
calyx, and was about one inch across its
partly open face. Each plant had only
two leaves. one stem and one flower. They
seemed to like to dwell in a crowd for the
low mound was completely covered with
them, and none were found Straying into
the dismal wilds around their settlement.
Not far off we found two more patches of
ground dcnsely populated with the little
plants and none wandering from home.
Notwithstanding their gregariousness they
must have sombre life after the trees
leave out living as they then will under
the deep endless shade Of the tall elms,
ashes, and naples around them.
Small birds or song birds seemed much
scarrer than almost anywhere in the sub
urbs of the city. We saw none and only
now and then heard one. Their absence
may be due to the blood-thirsty hawks
and wcasels which are plenty in the woods
but dare not enter the town.
The course of the brook was now ex-
trcmcly crooked The stream was bor-
dered by low flats, and it went reeling
about crossing and re-crossing the level
first to one side of It's valley and then to
the other. Small collections of driitwood
and dead leaves on the low grounds far
back from the stream showed that the
brook now and then goes on q tear in
consequence of taking in too many drinks
from the rills and springs that treat all along
its journey.
The woods was remarkably silent. No
wind hummed in the tree tops and even
the brook made no sound but moved
noiselessly along in its crooked ways un-
dcrmining trees, diving under fallen tim
Der, slyly getting the better Of every OBJ
stmction.
Going down stream a piece we came to
an open, grass-grown peninsula, bounded
by the brook. In the centre of this open,
grassy neck was willow with spread
ing top. The whole tree was covered
with profusion of yellow, sweet smell
ing flowers or catkins. The top was full
of bees and other buzzing insects after
the honey of the catkins. The bees and
honey-sucking flies were so numerous that
the noise of their wings filled the air
around the tree with a steady hum.
4 short distance further down, between
the brook and steep bluff twelve or fif-
teen feet high, was a low level of moist,
black soil, devoid of both trees and bushes.
Here in the soft earth we saw tracks
made by boys, and presently from high
bank, up in the woods not far away, we
heard voices next small crowd of little
fellows appeared on top of the bank and
then made rush down the slope toward
the brook. When we went where they
were we found them standing around
dead woodchuck that lay on its back be-
side the water at the foot of graveny
bluff. 1t was an old gray animal with
two rows of large nipples, and appeared
to have been dead not more than two or
three hours; but what killed it no one
knew as there were no marks of violence.
Some of the boys had hatchets, and
most of them were eating slippery elm
bark, which they said they obtained from
some trees a short distance to the north,
down stream. The largest boy asked us
if we would like to see a big pile of
snakes, and on our answering yes, he
told us to look beside the water on the
south side of log bridge, by which an
old woodland road crossed the brook.
We went to the place pointed out, and
there saw all in heap, twelve or fifteen
water snakes, none of them less than
three feet long, and large around in pro
| ,,or,;op to their lenpth They were all