Dark Specks Beneath The White Summer Clouds, The Swifts, The Black
Albatross Of Our Skies, Moved On Their Unwearied Wings.
Like the
albatross that floats over the ocean and sleeps on the wing, the swift's
scimitar-like pinions are careless of repose.
Once now and then they came
down to earth, not, as might be supposed, to the mansion or the church
tower, but to the low tiled roof of an ancient cottage which they fancied
for their home. Kings sometimes affect to mix with their subjects; these
birds that aspire to the extreme height of the air frequently nest in the
roof of a despised tenement, inhabited by an old woman who never sees
them. The corn was green and tall, the hops looked well, the foxglove was
stirring, the delicious atmosphere of summer, sun-laden and scented,
filled the deep valleys; a morning of the richest beauty and deepest
repose. All things reposed but man, and man is so busy with his vulgar
aims that it quite dawns upon many people as a wonderful surprise how
still nature is on a Sunday morning. Nature is absolutely still every day
of the week, and proceeds with the most absolute indifference to days and
dates.
The sharp metallic clangour of a bell went bang, bang, bang, from one
roof; not far distant a harsher and deeper note - some Tartar-like bell of
universal uproar - hammered away. At intervals came the distant chimes of
three distinct village churches - ding dong, dong ding, pango, frango,
jango - very much jango - bang, clatter, clash - a humming vibration and
dreadful stir.
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