DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62133#0163
AUTUMNAL RAMBLES.
147
CHAPTER XIV.
AUTUMNAL RAMBLES.
October 27.—To-day we commenced our winter cam-
paign of work at the studio. The whole day has been one
of pleasantness and beauty from beginning to end. The
first beautiful thing was our walk through the English
Garden to the studio. A considerable quantity of snow
had fallen during the night, and lay thick and pure upon
the branches of firs and pines, and upon the boughs of
various trees which have not yet shed thefr autumnal leaves •>
so that heavy masses of snow lay upon the scarlet and
gold, and olive-green branches, in strangest contrast. It
was a singular and poetic blending of autumn and winter,
full of lovely suggestions for decorative art. Upon the
wall, which on one side shuts in the garden, grow
tufts of grass, which formed, this morning, the most fairy-
like crests of beauty •, each bent and blade covered with
rime, which glittered in the sunshine. Lovely, brilliant
sprays dipped into the clear green waves of the mill-stream
which rushes along behind the studio-field. The field was
white with snow; we had our first winter’s glimpse of the
studio. And when we entered through the heavy grey
door into our little sanctum, the air was warm with a
pleasant warmth from the stove, and behold ! in one
corner stood a beautiful palm-tree in a green tub. It was
the emblem of peace to us. It is a favourite tree of K.’s j
he has painted sprays from it in the hands of the Christians
147
CHAPTER XIV.
AUTUMNAL RAMBLES.
October 27.—To-day we commenced our winter cam-
paign of work at the studio. The whole day has been one
of pleasantness and beauty from beginning to end. The
first beautiful thing was our walk through the English
Garden to the studio. A considerable quantity of snow
had fallen during the night, and lay thick and pure upon
the branches of firs and pines, and upon the boughs of
various trees which have not yet shed thefr autumnal leaves •>
so that heavy masses of snow lay upon the scarlet and
gold, and olive-green branches, in strangest contrast. It
was a singular and poetic blending of autumn and winter,
full of lovely suggestions for decorative art. Upon the
wall, which on one side shuts in the garden, grow
tufts of grass, which formed, this morning, the most fairy-
like crests of beauty •, each bent and blade covered with
rime, which glittered in the sunshine. Lovely, brilliant
sprays dipped into the clear green waves of the mill-stream
which rushes along behind the studio-field. The field was
white with snow; we had our first winter’s glimpse of the
studio. And when we entered through the heavy grey
door into our little sanctum, the air was warm with a
pleasant warmth from the stove, and behold ! in one
corner stood a beautiful palm-tree in a green tub. It was
the emblem of peace to us. It is a favourite tree of K.’s j
he has painted sprays from it in the hands of the Christians