1 8 THE COMING OF SPRING 



I could. She told me some names that I could n't 

 recollect and did n't want to, and when I told her 

 so she laughed, and learned me others that had 

 sense in 'em. 



"When she went away she left me her study - 

 book with 'em all marked out plain in red ink, so I 

 should n't forget. I 've always hoped maybe she 'd 

 come again ! " Here was a revelation ! Most people 

 thought Time o' Year half-witted, from his silence. 

 Who had ever heard him speak so much before ? 

 But as I turned to ask another question, he rose, 

 and quickly disappeared in the direction opposite to 

 which we had come to the wood. The warmth of 

 the sun suggested returning to the highway by the 

 old logging road skirting the southern slope of the 

 woods, and through the south meadows that Time 

 o' Year had said were showing signs of life, rather 

 than by the barren lane. 



As I worked my way back to the bars where 

 Nell was tied and scanned the ground closely, 

 there were signs of growth on every side, but held 

 in abeyance as if waiting a signal. I touched the 

 earth where the fists of sturdy Cinnamon Fern 

 were striving to push through ; it was dry and 

 hard. "Rain, rain, rain!" peeped the marsh frogs 

 from below, as a cloud crossed the sun. 



