Mary Jane and Midsummer

The quotations on the left are excerpts from "Mary Jane and Jerry," a story by William Morrison '52 in the December issue of "The Harvard Advocate." Those on the right are from "Mid-Summer," a story by Nancy Hale in "Short Stories from the New Yorker," copyright 1940 by the F-R Publishing Company.

The bridle path led them in a moment to the hollows....The hollows were deep bottomed with decaying leaves, smelling of dead water and dark leafage and insufferable heat; the sound of the horses' feet was like a confused heart beat. They got off their horses, without having said a word....They...their horses would carry them in a minute to the hollows. There was something terrible about the hollows, deep-bottomed with decaying leaves, smelling of dead water and dark leafage and insufferable heat. The sound of the horses' feet was like a confused heartbeat on the stood swaying together with their booted feet deep in the soft, mud, holding each other in the green gloom, the sweat running down their backs under the shirts. Presently they remounted and rode on. (page 8)

...Somebody is always on top, riding so carelessly and beautifully, half around in his saddle, with one hand on the horse's rump. (page 8)

When they galloped, a hot wind pressed by them and all of the flies flew away from the horses' necks. (page 10)

swampy ground....They used to get off their horses, without having said a word, and helplessly submerge themselves in each other's arms, while the sweat ran down their backs under their shirts...They stood swaying together with their booted feet deep in the mulch, holding each other, hot and mystified in this green gloom....After a while...they would mount the horses again. (page 76)

...Dan riding so beautifully and carelessly, half-around in his saddle, with one hand on the horse's rump...(page 77)

...When they galloped a hot wind pressed by them and all the million flies flew away from the horses' necks....(page 76)