DECEMBER 291 



ing. The dogwood bears a great treasure of 

 these, and there is much to think of in the way 

 in which the magnolias hold up the furry 

 tapers which are to flame out in white fire 

 before April goes. Maples make no secret of 

 their buds, which are ready for the first warm 

 day in March, nor dees the horse-chestnut deny 

 what it means to do with its large pointed tips. 

 The Andromeda is the most alluring of all 

 winter-budded growths ; and one of the jessa- 

 mines is so full of heavenly innocence that 

 three warm days will make her smile out, 

 goldenly, as if indeed the winter were past 

 and gone, and the time of singing birds had 

 come. So in reality, in bud and berry or 

 brown receptacle, we have always two joys 

 with us the promise of the year to come, and 

 the reminders of the year that is gone and a 

 beautiful and convincing argument for that 

 unbrokenness of life which we call Immor- 

 tality. 



The sun of the Shortest Day has set. The 

 old Earth, faithful and true, turns summerward 

 once more. The Book of the White-paper 

 Garden is full, and there must be new pages 

 for new days. Thank God for the beautiful, 



