38 In Touch with Nature. 



over-full ; and yet often we fancy much is lacking. 

 We continually make unjust demands. To-day 

 the river did not look chilly and so repellent ; 

 more than one water-plant was growing thriftily, 

 and by the pebbly beach was a faint suspicion of 

 the spice-wood's golden bloom ; but where were 

 the frogs ? I listened in vain, and, at last, to make 

 good my want, rattled the shaggy bark of an old 

 oak with my cane, and fancied I heard the first 

 frogs of the season. How true it is, the shortest 

 journey a man can take is when in search of a 

 fool ! Turning from the tree to the river, I saw 

 my face reflected on its quiet surface. 



Whether we see many sights or few ; hear the 

 rejoicings of every wild-wood bird, or but the 

 song of a single warbler, if that winged cente- 

 narian, with his scythe and hour-glass, old Father 

 Time, would only take a rest such a day as this, 

 the world would be the gainer. 



Still later : 



The intimations of February become substantial 

 promises long before the close of March, but how 

 human are they! The chances are good that 

 every promise will be broken. The big snow- 



