58 



in a box of wet sand overlaid with moss, 

 the flat, white-starred branches make an 

 ideal screen. Otherwhere it drops so quick- 

 ly or is so stiffly ungraceful that it will prove 

 only a vanity and vexation of spirit. That 

 is, in its first estate. In October few things 

 are more decorative than dogwood branches 

 set thick with leaves and fairly aglow with 

 clustered coral-red berries. Even after the 

 leaves fall they are especially handsome, 

 particularly when tacked flat against a plain 

 gray or dull-blue wall. Both sugar and rock 

 maples blossom before they leaf, and at the 

 merest hint of spring. If the " sugar-tree " 

 has been tapped it is two to four weeks late 

 in blossoming. Otherwise its thick clusters 

 of greenish-yellow fringe come out first of 

 all. Oftener than not they are pelted with 

 snow or wrapped in sleet before their course 

 is run. 



Nut-trees are wiser. It is high May, full 

 and splendid, before walnut and hickory 

 fling out their plumes of green, and fill the 



forest with a 



" Cool, wild, bitter scent, 

 Better than taint of rose or balm breath rare." 



It is strong, clean, uplifting. The breath 

 of it clears the mind and strengthens the 

 soul. If a trumpet call could be made 



