It clears up entirely by noon, having been cloudy in the forenoon, and is as warm as before now . . .

  I think that the principal stages in the autumnal changes of trees are these, thus far, as I remember, this year:—

  First, there were in September the few prematurely blushing white maples, or blazing red ones in water, that reminded us of October. Next, the red maple swamps blazed out in all their glory, attracting the eyes of all travellers and contrasting with other trees. And hard upon these came the ash trees and yellowing birches, and walnuts, and elms, and the sprout-land oaks, the last streaking the hillsides far off, often occupying more commanding positions than the maples. All these add their fires to those of the maples. But even yet the summer is unconquered . . .