[Illustration: “ONE OF THE EAGLES STRUCK ME A STINGING BLOW ON THE HEAD” _Chapter V_.] The Dallas Lore Sharp Nature Series THE FALL OF THE YEAR BY DALLAS LORE SHARP AUTHOR OF “THE LAY OF THE LAND,” “THE FACE OF THE FIELDS,” ETC. ILLUSTRATED BY ROBERT BRUCE HORSFALL BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge COPYRIGHT, 1896, 1903, BY PERRY MASON COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1907, BY HOUGHTON MIFFLIN AND COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1911, BY THE GOLDEN RULE COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1911, BY THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1911, BY DALLAS LORE SHARP ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TO DOCTOR AND MRS. TRASK OF THE SOUTH JERSEY INSTITUTE BEST OF TEACHERS, DEAREST OF FRIENDS CONTENTS INTRODUCTION xi I. THE CLOCK STRIKES ONE 1 II. ALONG THE HIGHWAY OF THE FOX 9 III. IN THE TOADFISH’S SHOE 21 IV. A CHAPTER OF THINGS TO SEE THIS FALL 29 V. WHIPPED BY EAGLES 36 VI. THANKSGIVING AT GRANDFATHER’S FARM 46 VII. A CHAPTER OF THINGS TO DO THIS FALL 52 VIII. THE MUSKRATS ARE BUILDING 61 IX. THE NORTH WIND DOTH BLOW 67 X. AN OUTDOOR LESSON 76 XI. LEAFING 80 XII. A CHAPTER OF THINGS TO HEAR THIS FALL 88 XIII. HONK, HONK, HONK! 96 NOTES AND SUGGESTIONS 105 ILLUSTRATIONS