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THE GUIDE To NATURE 



The Revelry and Ecstacy of Life. 



We talk about "the mystery of death." 

 We refer to it in sad, sepulchral tones 

 with ominous countenance! There is no 



THE MAPLE BUDS, BEFORE AND AFTER THE TOUCHES OF "THE SPRITE." 



mystery in death. It is the simplest, most 

 easily understood, most natural thing in 

 all this world. It is the ultimatum under 

 which all things exist undisturbed and 

 unaided. 



But what is this meddlesome, enliven- 

 ing, upsetting thing, this sprite, magic, 

 miracle, this really and truly great mys- 



tery, in revelry and ecstacy, that we call 

 life. Here it comes riding on the sun's 

 rays, dancing in every drop of moisture, 

 telling us that it only is new and mys- 

 terious. How lightly it touches and 

 adorns and transforms. It is both ma- 

 gician and musician. From here and 

 there come the notes of the soprano tree 



THE MARVELOUS UNFOLDING OF THE CATKINS. 



