NEWS OFSPRING 



The fruit-trees alone have long reflected : the exanmple of 

 the vegetables among which they live urged them to take part 

 in the general rejoicing, but the rigid attitude of their elders 

 from the North, of the grandparents born in the great dark 

 forests, preached prudence to them. Nevertheless, they 

 awaken: they too can resist no longer and at last make up 

 their minds to join the dance of perfumes and of love. Th^ 

 peach-trees are now no more than a rosy miracle: they suggest 

 the softness of a child's skin turned into azure vapour by the 

 breath of dawn. The pear-, the plum-, the apple-, the al- 

 mond-tree make dazzling efforts in drunken rivalry; and the 

 pale hazel-trees, like Venetian chandeliers, resplendent with 

 a cascade of gems, stand here and there to light the feast. 



As for the luxurious flowers that seem to possess no other 

 object than themselves, they have long abandoned the en- 

 deavour to fathom the mystery of this boundless summer. 

 They no longer score the seasons, no longer count the days ; 

 and, knowing not what to do in the glowing disarray of hours 

 that have no shadow, dreading lest they should be deceived 

 and lose a single second that might be fair, they have resolved 

 to bloom without respite from January to December. Nature 

 approves them and, to reward their trust in happiness, their 



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