7O EASY-CHAIR MEMORIES 



soon be dead. We throw them out handfuls 

 of crumbs on the soft snow, which they are 

 quickly down upon in a flock, and it is interest- 

 ing to watch them picking bits out of the snow. 

 Soon after noon the sun bursts forth gloriously 

 for an hour or two ; the white sheet disappears 

 as if by magic ; the cattle rejoice in green grass ; 

 worms lift the mould and put their heads out to 

 get a peep and a little sunshine in the outer 

 world, and at once are pounced on and torn 

 from their stronghold in the earth by black- 

 bird, thrush, or starling, and are greedily gorged 

 or wafted away to feed the starving brood 

 gaping in the nests. The small birds, not 

 quite equal to cope with a worm, find other 

 provender. All have forgotten their troubles 

 of the morning, and now, in spite of north- 

 easterly gales or "an envious, sneaping frost 

 that bites the first-born infants of the spring,'* 

 a foreboding of troubles yet in store for them, 

 they carol forth their glad songs as if nothing 

 had been the matter with them a few hours 

 ago ! This sort of tragi-comedy was being 

 repeatedly performed during the sad and dreary 

 month of April. In spite of wind, in spite of 

 weather, Nature will not stay her hand : nest 



