SPRING. 25 



is scarce yet, and they get little but exercise. 

 His winter keep is about done, and the stirks 

 must "fend" for themselves. The snow lies in 

 the glack of Glenturret, and the misty vapour 

 careering along the hill face proclaims hail 

 showers. 



The smith is busy in his garden getting in 

 his early potatoes and his dwarf peas. The 

 " wricht " is " doon " with the influenza, and 

 his garden looks cold and dreary with the 

 vegetable remnants of the previous year upon it. 

 A brace of Sparrows are dusting themselves 

 in the March dust, but they fly away as the 

 baker's van approaches. The piping, plaintive 

 noise of the Hedge-Sparrow is no\v hushed, 

 He is best heard in the morning. 



The gardener is covering his wall trees with 

 nets to protect the blossom from frost. The 

 crocus in all his various colours is now full 

 out. The Lark is singing in the lift cheerily. 

 All seems gay and happy now that winter 

 is fjone 



