218 THE CLERK OF THE WOODS 



And within three days I can hardly be- 

 lieve it the old year will be done. So let 

 it be. Its passing brings us so much nearer 

 the grave ; worse yet, perhaps, it leaves us 

 with our winter's work half accomplished; 

 but our eyes are forward. After all, our 

 work is not important. We are twice too 

 busy; living as our neighbors do, rather 

 than according to the law of our own being ; 

 playing the fool (there is no fool like the 

 busy one) ; selling our birthright for a mess 

 of pottage. The great thing, especially in 

 springtime, is to lie wide open to the life 

 that enfolds us, while the " gentle deities " 

 show us, for our delight, 



" The lore of colors and of sounds, 

 The innumerable tenements of beauty." 



Yes, that is the wisdom we should pray for. 

 The youngest of us will not see many springs. 

 Let us see the most that we can of this one. 

 So much there will be to look at ! Now, of 

 all times, we may say with one of old, " Lord, 

 that I might receive my sight." What a 

 new world we should find ourselves living 

 in ! I can hardly imagine it. 



