The Washington herald., 1914-02-20
THE SNOW-CAPPED
HEMLO CKS.
BY EMORY >. HAYNES.

The calm of the storm permits this err
mine to remain for hours of the suniit
morning. These trees are so engaging
to look upon, in their green and silver,
that one cannot turn from the win
dows that command the view Moveless
moment after moment, as the sunrise
tints them into green and gold, you
are impelled to steady the rolling globe
by your outstretched hand lest jar
knock down all this frail loneliness.
And there comes a jar, or maybe IT
was wandering breath of wind. By
some touch or other, the higher
branches turn into spray OF finer par
ticies, sweeping down like brides
veil
gentleman on the east road keeps
a herd of deer and in one corner of the
paddock is shelter. yet the deer run
to the hemlock and often can be seen
huddled in punches under this their
natal protection. II is a coy spot, like
children's playhouse
No doubt this moment. in the Adiron-
daeks, many deer is protected under
his tent of hemlocks and pines. Thaw-
ing and freezing harden the snow
thatch so that it clings even against
winds. From these haunts the track
to a lick, an open spring in the lake
side, can be seen. For food the deer
paw down to the hay that was never
cut, but buried under the snow. Such
hay is not much inferior in nutritive
worth to that in the farmers open
stack or even in his barns. Looking
UP. at the sound OF our sleigh bells,
the east road deer stamped their hoofs
at us, but chung to their snug protec-
tion of the hemlocks. II was a case
of the call OF the wild" The grand
fathers OF these pretty, half -domesti
Gated creatures never knew any other
winter shelter.
A row OF hemlocks mile long bor-
ders yonder country highway that
climbs the mountain. They resemble
Napoleon's grenadiers on their retreat
from Russia. Their white hats are
aligned, their white shoulder straps
are in perfect order. There is no
panic of retreat as they grimly pace
along. Up on the mountain is a vast
army of hemlockS, seemingly in camp.
All the naples, so poorly clad and
shiverins cold, are the peasants and
villagers, spectators of the grand
march OF the never surrendcring host.
What majestic beauty is herel Who
thought this all out, in a mental plan.
and then reserved the plans all sum-
MGR and till now: Even the infinite va
riety of this ermine on single bow
| could never carry in my mind. But
here are a hundred branches on one
tree.
Who etched yondcr striking wall ia
pestry and then wove it. One giant
hemlock. in a hillside forests of naples.
resembles a priest before a cathedral
The small hcmlocks al
his side arc acolytcS. no doubt. swinging
unseen censcrs. And vested choir
trails farther down toward the valley. |
The music is too far away for me to
hear.
The castellatcd rocks to the right |
must be the front of the temple, and
much OF the procession has entered the !
everlasting doors.
There are lines OF the Hudson River
highlands that are totally changed, here
and there The hemlocks and other !
evergreens are so snow covered that
whole cliffs seem to have disappeared |
in the one vast blending OF a snow !
landscape Other trees are purple and
brown, preserving the familiar features |
But the obliterated fur-clad regions are
gone.
Then again the scanned sides OF
Storm King, for instance. We featured
With deeper wrinkles. where. on lodges !
The snow clings. The hardy evergreen
brave bush which often roofs itself !
nall IN the cliff where none but itself
ard birds could lod2c-thiS sentinel OF /
he mountain seems to bear a sword, |
or it may be ii looks 10 YOU like a ,
spear. 1t is al an rate somehow .
armed and on guard. and the weapon is
another shape OF snow on the hemlock !
Usually at night c,ergreens seem to |
hasten the darkness. Not so now. They
Drolong the light They are in their |
glory when there is a moon. Look at !
the star in the cas-" high over yonder
rec. and imagine the freighted boughs
bending with Christmas presents for
Is all. Now the wind arises, and 10.
with what bounty the tokens are being
landed down! 1t is enough to make
'ne play tho boy again, with the other
children. Even the house dog leaps
o go with us. We stand in the moon
igh. and sing carol as the white
masses tumble down upon us-a snow
torn under sky of blue
Army Officer to Teach ChiIean..