FEBRUARY 35 



to disappointment, checked in its ardour and compelled to 

 stay its hurrying. 



Spring is coming. Although tardy to show the hidden 

 beauties which we know are lying as yet a secret treasure, 

 we are aware of a new life abroad, and of Nature resurgent 

 from the soil. Yet the beauty will be shown ere long, and, 

 as a writer says, the bare land will be 



" Some infinite world of flowers, transformed 

 By unseen wands of wind." 



But everywhere around to-day are sure precursors of 

 the Spring. An hour of sudden breezes between the calm 

 wholly changes the aspect of the land ; or over the satisfied 

 brightness a sweep of shadow from fast-travelling cloud 

 tempers the over brightness of the light, the very herald of 

 spring, and a rehearsal of the marriage day of March and 

 April, acted in Nature's " Masque of Spring." We can 

 almost picture Nature preparing her colours, so beautifully 

 told by Emerson when he says 



" What joy in rosy waves outpoured " ; 

 a colour that 



" Fires gardens with a blaze of tulips," 

 and bids 



" The ground-pines wash their rusty green, 

 The maple tops their crimson tint " ; 



while from day to day 



"... The murmuring rivers of sap 

 Mount in the pipes of the trees, 

 Giddy with day, to the topmost spire, 

 Which for a spike of tender green 

 Bartered its powdery cap ; 



And the colours of joy in the bird, 

 And the love in its carol heard." 



