MINSTREL WEATHER 



with winter shelter stand patient sentinels 

 in the field. Abandoned they may seem, 

 yet could you suddenly tip one over there 

 would be a startled scurrying, for these 

 are the choice snow-time residences of 

 field mice, cottontails, weasels, and meadow 

 moles not, of course, together in har- 

 mony, but in their separate establish- 

 ments. Let the blizzard come; it only 

 makes warmer a house of cornstalks prop- 

 erly built, which bears, nevertheless, some 

 of the dangers of a gingerbread home 

 passing cows may feel tempted. 



Vermilion heraldry of the wild rose is 

 waved undimmed. Witch-hazel with her 

 yellow blossoms, last flowers of the year, 

 gazes upon the vanquished shrubs about 

 her with a smile. Why, she will not even 

 sow her seed until February! There is 

 plenty of time for hardy petals. 



Massed against the stern horizon, the 

 forest stands an unresponsive gray; en- 

 tered, the twigs are seen sleek brown, dark 

 red, and a fawn soft as the tan orchid. 

 In towns December shows the iron mood. 

 But in the open places, where pools of 

 light and shadow lie, it is a water-color 

 month, made fine with no gorgeous velvets 



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