MAY. 101 



each in its own character and figure ; neither 

 disguised nor hidden in the dense mass of fo- 

 liage which obscures them in summer; — you 

 behold the scattered and majestic trunks ; the 

 branches stretching high and wide ; the dark 

 drapery of ivy which envelopes some of them, 

 and the crimson flush that glows in the worid 

 of living twigs above. If the contrast of grey 

 and mossy branches, and of the delicate rich- 

 ness of young leaves gushing out of them in a 

 thousand places be inexpressibly delightful to 

 behold, that of one tree with another is not 

 the less so. One is nearly full clothed, — an- 

 other is mottled with grey and green, strug- 

 gling as it were which should have the pre- 

 dominance, and another is still perfectly naked. 

 The wild cherry stands like an apparition in 

 the woods, white with its profusion of blossom, 

 and the wilding begins to exhibit its rich and 

 blushing countenance. The pines look dim and 

 dusky amid the lively hues of spring. The 

 abeles are covered with their clusters of al- 

 bescent and powdery leaves and withering 

 catkins ; and beneath them the pale spathes of 

 the arum, fully expanded and displaying their 

 crimson clubs, presenting a sylvan and unique 

 air. And who does not love " the wood-notes 

 wild?" We again recognize the speech of 

 many a little creature who, since we last heard 



