EARLIEST BUTTERFLIES 



now sending new leaves, one after another 

 in rapid succession, that top the brown 

 grasses and begin to wreathe them with 

 the tender green of spring. 



There is joy in their very coloring as 

 they stretch up to meet the enfolding 

 warmth of the sun. Here an early butter- 

 cup waves a cleft and somewhat pinnate 

 hand to me with jaunty assurance, though 

 in the heart of its cluster is as yet no sign 

 of the ascending stem that is to bear the 

 glossy, yellow bloom aloft. Dandelion 

 leaves shake their notched spears all about, 

 proud that their buds are already visible, 

 though still tucked down in the heart of 

 the plant and showing no sign of yellow. 



Here are the wee strawberry-like leaves 

 of the cinquefoil, pale counterpart of the 

 buttercup to which it looks up in gentle 

 envy and admiration. The cinquefoil fol- 

 lows hard upon the heels of the violet, and 

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