"THE BEAUTIFUL NECESSITY" 157 



near and far ; the purple petals of the sweet Pasque 

 flower, tucked snugly in its cup of silvered silk, 

 spread gay carpets for the fairies on the unbroken 

 virgin soil. Spring cried : " Awake ! " and the 

 voice of the prairie rang out of the heart of the 

 earth sun-clear and strong. The croak of the hosts 

 of the frog-world in full chorus, the thin high note 

 of the gophers, the jest of the cat-bird, and the 

 thirsty rattle of the bittern joined in the spring song 

 led by the lark's gay, glad summons to hope ; the 

 grey-blue walls of the sloughs took on a lapis tinge 

 at the ardent kiss of the sun and where tongues of 

 fire had licked angry ways across the prairie, a 

 new-born growth of tenderest emerald hue mocked 

 the end of destruction in the triumph of life. Azure 

 sky above, fragrant turf beneath, the magic of the 

 dry, clear air, the precious glow of the sungod ! 

 The buzz and hum of growing, gathering life which 

 throbbed from every blade, swayed in the wind, 

 and whispered in the waters, charming song out 

 of silence, flame out of ice, warmth out of snow — 

 gay, glad, gracious, lovable, lovely life was awake 

 at the call of Spring and cried out : " The altar 

 of labour, and the place of dolce far niente is the 

 earth." 



Many an hour of sweet idleness did I lay upon 

 the shrine, because even in that first season I 

 reahzed that since I had to pay in full for the time 

 of my hired man I must make full use of it. Break- 

 fast I served punctually at six o'clock — early rising 

 soon ceased to be a hardship — so that I had many 

 hours of leisure between breakfast and the midday 

 meal, which was always served at noon, and supper 

 which was timed for 6.30. A teamster is supposed 



