The Audubon Societies 127 



of a retreating brook-channel at freshet-time, can forget the feeling of the earth, 

 of the air, and the scent of spring which everywhere abounds? No other days 

 are like these days of budding leaves and drying soil. It is a glorious time, not 

 only to be outdoors, but to be outside self. It is a revelation of a new kind of 

 kinship to plant a tree and to welcome the return of the birds — a kinship 

 with Nature. 



But the real spirit of spring must go with the planting and the welcome; 

 otherwise the observance of Bird and Arbor Day will become a tiresome 

 repetition of a once novel idea. 



Viewed in this light, it becomes a large but pleasant task to instruct our 

 boys and girls how to meet spring with open hands and hearts. What work 

 more attractive or more full of joy could Audubon Societies take part in 

 than this one of interpreting the true meaning of Bird and Arbor Day! 



Busy teachers and restless pupils would both appreciate the cooperation of 

 bird-students and nature-lovers in this spring-festival season. Will you not 

 all make some definite attempt to obser\'e Bird and Arbor Day more in the 

 spirit of spring? Will you not make an attempt to observe it together in the 

 school-grounds and public parks of our land, or better yet, in the woods 

 and fields of the open? Will you not strive to attach more significance to the 

 great idea which was the reason for the appointment of this day, the preserva- 

 tion and conservation of Nature? — A. H. W. 



JUNIOR AUDUBON WORK 



For Teachers and Pupils 



Exercise XIV: Correlated Studies, Reading, Elementary Agriculture, 



and Geography 



"Look at this beautiful world, and read the truth 

 In her fair page; see every season brings 

 New change to her of everlasting youth — 

 Still the green soil with joyous living things 

 Swarms — the wide air is full of joyous wings." — Bryant. 



As the wild winds of March tear the tree-tops and rush the melting snows 

 of February down the hillsides into swollen brooks and channels, we feel the 

 hope of springtime rising high in our breasts. There may be more storms 

 ahead, but they cannot last long, for the great sun stays with us more and 

 more each day, and neither snow nor wintry storms can brave the heat of 

 its life-giving power. 



Jack Frost must stop playing with the temperature now, dropping it to 

 the nipping point for the last time. The ice will break up in the rivers, rush- 

 ing headlong down stream, and it will soon melt, too, from our streets and 

 crackling ponds. 



