MARCH 



27 



I see a woodchuck out on the calm side of Lee's 

 Hill (Nawshawtuck). He has pushed away the 

 withered leaves which filled his hole, and come 

 forth, and left his tracks on those slight patches of 

 the recent snow which are left about his hole. 



THOREAU: Early Spring in Massachusetts. 



The marsh hawk sailing low over the meadow is 

 already seeking the first slimy life that awakes. 

 The sinking sound of melting snow is heard in all 

 dells, and the ice dissolves apace in the ponds. 



THOKEAU: Walden. 



28 



Occasionally, of a bright, warm, still day in 

 March, such as we have had the present season, the 

 little flying spider is abroad. It is the most deli- 

 cate of all March tokens, but very suggestive. Its 

 long, waving threads of gossamer, invisible except 

 when the sunlight falls upon them at a particular 

 angle, stream out here and there upon the air, a 

 filament of life, reaching and reaching as if to 

 catch and detain the most subtle of the skyey in- 

 fluences. 



BURROUGHS: Riverby. 



