A SPRING HOLIDAY 



looking plant, the blue cohosh, sometimes called 

 " pappoose-root," with smooth, purplish stem, pur- 

 ple, divided leaves, and clusters of purple flowers. 

 Close to this plant was a leafless shrub with in- 

 significant yellow blossoms, and bark so tough 

 that it was almost impossible to break off a 

 branch. This proved to be the " leatherwood " 

 used by the Indians for thongs. It is also known 

 as " moosewood " and " swampwood." 



Once more on our wheels along the winding 

 road and we were in the woods again. In the 

 spring woods the sun filters everywhere through 

 the leafless branches, and nowhere did it meet /„ the 

 lovelier upturned flower-faces than here, where z 

 myriad, many-hued blossoms of the liverwort ex- 

 panded beneath its rays. Never before had I 

 seen this flower so abundant and so perfect — pure 

 white, pale lavender, deep violet, or pink of the 

 most delicate shade. I abandoned my usual 

 principle of leaving flowers as I find them, and I 

 gathered them recklessly, with exultant, extrava- 

 gant joy, seeking every little variety of shade, se- 

 lecting the largest and most complete specimens, 

 fairly gloating over their perfection of delicate 

 beauty. Though the individual flowers of the 

 liverwort are hardly fragrant, a faint and delicious 

 odor came from the great bunch which finally I 

 held 



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