flotes of tbe 1Ki0bt 



which our eyes are really blind, nor is it a feature 

 of but a part of each day. It is present at day- 

 break and as the mists roll away ; for they do roll 

 over and over until out of sight. The earth has a 

 strange look. The surface of both land and water 

 follow the mist, or at least move slightly upward 

 and come more distinctly into view. Fancy some 

 huge creature turning over on his couch and toss- 

 ing away his blankets. The world is wide awake 

 at daybreak, and though the robin was not here 

 to-day, there was no lack of announcement. The 

 song-sparrows that so gallantly defied the winter, 

 and sang even before the coming of the spring- 

 tide light, sing now with greater joyousness. Other 

 birds, sturdy songsters that came last autumn from 

 Canadian forests, still keep to their roosts or only 

 peep out to scan the promises of a sunny day. At 

 last, the sun rises, changing the pearly dewdrops 

 to brighter gems, adding a little to their glory be- 

 fore destroying them. This magic light is not 

 destroyed but intensified at sunrise. The level 

 rays of the sun have a fashion all their own, and 

 how few have marked the strange shadows that 

 are cast. That of a tall tree-trunk before me is 

 now moving its way toward the western horizon, 

 while the branches are yet in unsunned light. A 

 quickly passing phase, this, of the many-sided day, 

 and likely to escape notice, but not so the light- 

 tipped buds of the maple. Ruddy, though the 

 day be dark; but now, how each dull bud becomes 

 4 49 



