TREES AND SHRUBS. 27 



4 Dog-wood stars the slopes are studding, 



And I see 

 Blooms upon the purple budding 



Judas-tree. 

 Aspen tassels thick are dropping 



All about, 

 And the alder leaves are cropping 



Broader out ; 



* Mouse-ear tufts the hawthorns sprinkle 



Edged with rose, 

 The dark bed of periwinkle 



Fresher grows, 

 Up and down are midges dancing 



On the grass, 

 How their gauzy wings are glancing 



As they pass ! 



' What does all this haste and hurry 



Mean 1 pray, 

 All this out-door flush and flurry 



Seen to-day ? 

 This presaging stir and humming, 



Chirp and cheer 

 Mean ? It means that Spring is coming, 



Spring is here ! ' 



Then in Summer red berries cluster upon the tree 

 in great profusion, and again in October it will not 



