32 COLIN CLOUTS CALENDAR. 



VI. 



CATKINS AND ALMOND-BLOSSOM. 



IN spite of the renewal of winter weather, the trees and 

 flowers are still pushing on amain. Snow has fallen 

 again, but there has been a time of sunshine since ; and 

 though the air is keen, the leaves and bursting buds 

 seem to be drinking in the sunlight at all their pores. 

 Animals have felt the brusque change more than plants. 

 A blackbird's nest had already two eggs in it a week 

 ago ; but I fear the after frosts destroyed them. The 

 early lambs look woe-begone as they straggle aimlessly 

 across the damp fields, too cold to lie down and too 

 tired to keep themselves warm by frisking about ; and 

 many of the younger ones will suffer sorely. Farmers 

 say, in their matter-of-fact way, that the lambing will 

 turn out a failure ; and what a world of misery to the poor 

 beasts themselves those hard business words cover with 

 their cold phraseology. On the other hand, the plants 

 and trees for the most part seem none the worse for the 

 change. The wind has cut off the crocuses in a body ; 

 but the lilacs are unfolding their leaves faster than ever, 

 the hedges are green in a mass on sheltered southern 

 aspects, and the flowering almonds have their naked 

 boughs covered with clustering branches of delicate 



