WINTER 57 



Said one, " I '11 be if it ain't 



snowing ! " 



Another replied, " What the do I 



care if it is snowing ? " Then, in a tone of 



awakening interest, "Well, by , I '11 



be if it ain't snowing ! " 



And the gentlemen continued their stroll. 



Occasionally the plants show a surprising 

 indifference to frost. A rosebud that ap- 

 peared about the first of October was still 

 awaiting encouragement from the sun in 

 the middle of November. On Thanksgiv- 

 ing day I examined it again, but it had 

 not budged. As a mild winter followed, 

 I found no change in it. It remained a 

 swollen, but never-bursting bullet of red. 

 Finally I cut it and put it into a vase of 

 water in the house, thinking that it might 

 open in the warmth; but it slowly withered 

 without opening a leaf or abating a jot of 

 its toughness. After no less than six frosts 

 the yarrow was as green as in August. 



And we often go out to look at these 

 survivals, that we may keep our minds 

 green until the time of birds and buds 

 comes around once more. 



