134 WINTER 



on the 21st of March? For here is the bird's nest 

 with eggs in it, just as I said. 



Watch the hole up under that stub of a limb while 

 I tap on the trunk. How sound asleep ! But I will 

 wake them. Rap-rap-rap! There he comes the 

 big barred owl ! 



Climb up and take a peek at the eggs, but don't you 

 dare to touch them ! Of course you will not. I need 

 not have been so quick and severe in my command ; 

 for, if we of this generation do not know as much 

 about some things as our fathers knew, we do at least 

 know better than they that the owls are among our 

 best friends and are to be most jealously protected. 



Climb up, I say, and take a peek at those round 

 white eggs, and tell me, Is it spring or winter? Is 

 it the last day, or the first day, or the first and last 

 in one ? What a high mix-up is the weather espe- 

 cially this New England sort ! 



But look at that ! A snowflake! Yes, it is begin- 

 ning to snow with the sun crossing the line! It is 

 beginning to snow, and down with the first flakes, 

 like a bit of summer sky drops a bluebird, calling 

 softly, sweetly, with notes that melt warm as sunshine 

 into our hearts. 



" For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and 

 gone." But see how it snows! Yes, but see 



The willows gleam with silver light; 



The maples crimson glow 

 The first faint streaks on winter's east, 



Far-off and low. 



