4 THE SPRING OF THE YEAR 



Then, you see, my chapter in the book will become y 

 your own. 



There are so many persons who do not know one/ 

 bird from another, one tree from another, one flower , 

 from another; who would not know one season from/ 

 another did they not see the spring hats in the mil- ' 

 liner's window or feel the need of a %* 

 change of coat. I hope you are not ' f 

 one of them. I hope you are' 

 on the watch, instead, for the ,' 

 first phoebe or the earliest < 

 bloodroot, or are listening toft 

 catch the shrill, brave peep- \ 

 ing of the little tree-frogs, ' 

 the hylas. 



As for me, I am on the watch ; i 

 for the shadbush. Oh, yes, spring v 3 

 comes before the shadbush opens, but tf/ 

 it is likely not to stay. The wild geese ^ 

 trumpet spring in the gray March skies ^ j 

 as they pass ; a February rain, after a ^v! 

 '$ long cold season of snow, spatters your face with ; \/ 

 spring ; the swelling buds on the maples, the fuzzy 1 

 kittens on the pussy-willows, the opening marsh- J- ^ 

 '\ marigolds in the meadows, the frogs, the bluebirds <f? 

 V all of these, while they stay, are the spring. But - 

 ? they are not sure to stay over night, here in New w 

 M England. You may wake up and find it snowing V v > 

 & until the shadbush opens. After that, hang up your * ' 



