The days were soft and sunshiny, apt to be broken by a hurry of clouds, of slanting trees, and silver rain.

When the sun came out again, it painted a great bow in the heavens.

Beneath that bright token bloomed a thousand orchards; and the wheat and the young corn waved in the wet breeze.

The land was rolling and red in colour, with beautiful trees and narrow rivers.

Eastward it descended to misty plains, westward the mountains rose, bounding a noble landscape of field and forest.