The Mill on the Floss

By: Eliot, George

A wide plain, where the broadening Floss hurries on between its green banks to the sea, and the loving tide, rushing to meet it, checks its passage with an impetuous embrace. Onthis mighty tide the black ships-laden with the fresh-scented fir-planks, with roundedsacks of oil-bearing seed, or with the dark glitter of coal-are borne along to the town of StOgg's, which shows its aged, fluted red roofs and the broad gables of its wharves betweenthe low wooded hill and the river-brink, tingeing the water with a soft purple hue under thetransient glance of this February sun. Far away on each hand stretch the rich pastures, andthe patches of dark earth made ready for the seed of broad-leaved green crops, or touchedalready with the tint of the tender-bladed autumn-sown corn. There is a remnant still oflast year's golden clusters of beehive-ricks rising at intervals beyond the hedgerows; andeverywhere the hedgerows are studded with trees; the distant ships seem to be lifting theirmasts and stretching their red-brown sails close among the branches of the spreading ash.Just by the red-roofed town the tributary Ripple flows with a lively current into the Floss.How lovely the little river is, with its dark changing wavelets It seems to me like a livingcompanion while I wander along the bank, and listen to its low, placid voice, as to the voiceof one who is deaf and loving. I remember those large dipping willows. I remember thestone bridge.And this is Dorlcote Mill. I must stand a minute or two here on the bridge and look at it, though the clouds are threatening, and it is far on in the afternoon. Even in this leaflesstime of departing February it is pleasant to look at, -perhaps the chill, damp season adds acharm to the trimly kept, comfortable dwelling-house, as old as the elms and chestnuts thatshelter it from the northern blast. The stream is brimful now, and lies high in this littlewithy plantation, and half drowns the grassy fringe of the croft in front of the house. As Ilook at the full stream, the vivid grass, the delicate bright-green powder softening theoutline of the great trunks and branches that gleam from under the bare purple boughs, Iam in love with moistness, and envy the white ducks that are dipping their heads far intothe water here among the withes, unmindful of the awkward appearance they make in thedrier world abo

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B08PJ1LFFL
• ISBN13: 9798575330967
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 388 Pages
• Weight: 0.93 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.0" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher