110 



NATURE FOB ITS OWN SAKE 



ice. The winding courses they follow and the 

 beautiful forms of snow-drifts into which they 

 finally resolve themselves, are distinct features 

 of the snow -landscape. 



The early days of March when the snow is 

 beginning to melt, when the rocks on the hill- 

 side heave out of the white, and odd patches of 

 ground show dull gray or brown, are usually 

 considered the dreary days of the year. Most 

 people declare the country "stupid" at this 

 time and house themselves in cities if they can ; 

 but to some nature-lovers it is perhaps the most 

 interesting season of all. The snow on the side- 

 hill still lingers ; but the meadows are bare, 

 the brooks are swollen, the ice is gorged in 

 the river, the valleys are shining with pools 

 of water. The skeleton of nature is pushing 

 through its winter mantle at every point ; but 

 if we look at it with appreciative eyes we shall 

 find the hills and the rocks and the bare trees 

 beautiful as outlines merely beautiful in their 

 rugged, broken angles and their traceries of 

 line against the snow or sky. Besides, there 

 is some little color noticeable all through the 

 winter in the red stems of the maples and the 

 birch, in the ruddy glow of the swamp bushes. 

 This color begins to heighten in March and 



