FEBRUARY. 



When first the pussy-willow shows 



Her fairy muffs of gray, 

 While still amid the poplar tree 

 The blithe, familiar chickadee 



His morning suet gratis gets, 

 When first the consternating crows 

 Break on the winter-keen repose 



Of February day 



Their strident cawings, 

 Startling with Stygian silhouettes 



The virgin snows 



To wake, and with faint thawings, 



Like speech half audible, 

 Murmur of spring, until we houslings feel 



Or dream we feel the breath 



Of blowing violets * * * 



Percy Mackaye. 



HE early days of winter bring with 

 them a sense of rest and calm after 

 the tumultuous joys and volup- 

 tuous beauties of summer. For the 

 nature-lover, summer is packed 

 with exhilaration, and after its 

 emotional excesses the peace and quiet of early 

 winter is a soothing influence to his tired nerves. 



As autumn fades, and the frosts come, Nature's 

 beautiful and interesting forms quietly retire for 

 their season of rest, "awaiting the requiem of 

 winter's snows." 



