noon
The sunshine played among the branches , and fell through onto the flowery earth , where it lay among the shadows of the leaves like so many round pieces of gold . Although George was climbing the mountain , his breath came freely , and all at once , without any reason , he burst into song . He sang a song at the top of his voice , there in the woods , that he had learned from the gardeners . At noon he thought he had reached the top of the mountain , but behind again a yet higher peak arose , and so , after he had eaten the bread and butter which the blacksmith 's wife had given him , he continued his way and , as the sun was setting , attained the summit of the second mountain , which was the highest far and near . Once more he beheld the river which , sparkling and bright , wound through the green plain like a silver snake . Smaller hills covered with forests fell away on all sides and the tops of the trees caught the radiance of the sinking sun . Over the snow-fields of the further mountain-ranges , a rosy shimmer spread that made him think of the peach blossoms at home ; a purple mist obscured the rocky peaks behind him and there , far away to the south , was a tiny speck of blue .