Page:Literary pilgrimages of a naturalist (IA literarypilgrima00packrich).pdf/56

 III

IN OLD PONKAPOAG

Glimpses from a Study Window of Thomas Bailey Aldrich

The study where Thomas Bailey Aldrich wrote some of his daintiest verse looks forth upon a sweet valley. Down this valley prattle clear-eyed brooks that meet and grow, and water lush meadows filled with all lovely things of summer, while low woods beyond set a dark green line against the sunsets. Looking toward these of a day when rosy mists tangle the sun's rays and anon let them slip in arrow flight earthward, we have pictured for us how

"We knew it would rain, for all the morn, A spirit on slender ropes of mist Was lowering its golden buckets down  Into the vapory amethyst."

Wherever written, this and a hundred other dainty things seem to flock into the tiny valley upon which he looked from the study window of