66 IValks in New England 



Opening April 



FAIRLY launched in April, the most hope 

 ful, most capricious, dearest of the spring 

 months, we are quarreling with the chilly 

 winds of north and west, and wishing for summer. 

 T is most unreasonable. Is there anything less 

 satisfying than fulfilment, anything more de 

 licious than expectation ? Luxury comes with 

 summer, but this tardy, hesitating, lingering spring 

 possesses the finer charm of reticent retreat and 

 delicate enticement. A little advance of green 

 grass in sunny spots beside the hedge of the road 

 sides ; a little freshening of the willow bark and 

 the soft maples ; a brave and sudden disengage 

 ment of the buttonwood s brown shell of out 

 grown bark, revealing the clear, splendid gayety 

 of its fresh garniture ; a deepening of tone all 

 along the woodland, the young growth first 

 flinging its modified reds against the gray of win 

 ter ; a new tint swelling in the swamps, where the 

 Cassandra s young buds push out beneath the 

 copper bronze of the winter-living leaves ; these 



