280 Walks in New England 



Spring Days in Winter 



IT has pleased the lovers of the New England 

 year to observe that its spirit and standard 

 of living are warm and ample, instead of frigid 

 and restricted ; that it is not disproportioned with 

 six months of winter, three months of summer 

 and three other months of betweenities, as the 

 slander goes ; but that in point of fact, it is sum 

 mer that rules. Summer is positive ; winter is 

 negative ; in the vexing rapidity of change from 

 one temperature to another we recognize the ag 

 gression of that royal life which will not consent 

 to be pent under snow and ice, but must break 

 forth and assert itself. Thus it is that after a few 

 iron-bound days, the sky grows blue and the 

 clouds delicately thin, and every storm that is 

 prepared has a preface of bright or veiled sweet 

 ness of air and earth in generous and tender har 

 mony. Such preliminary days have in them the 

 essential feeling of a life ready to start anew in all 

 the charms of earth ; and the suggestion of spring 

 thus irresistibly projects itself in such a day when 



