CHAPTER XII. 



THE PROGRESS OF THE SEASONS. 



The parting of the icy chains of winter, and the return 

 of spring, is the most acceptable change in the seasons of 

 the year in North America. The latter part of the winter 

 is most tedious, and the strong links with which it binds 

 the face of nature are snapped but slowly — so slowly that 

 one is apt to become very impatient — heartily sick of the 

 sight of snow and the tinkling sleigh-bells. The I7tli 

 March, as a general rule, is about the time of the first 

 appreciable change. Warm rains and reeking fogs cause 

 the snow to disappear rapidly ; here and there the roads 

 exhibit patches of bare ground with deep mud, and the 

 settler's sled has to seek the strips of snow which still 

 fringe the edge of the road, or often altogether to turn 

 into the woods. Now may be seen the wild goose wing- 

 ing his way in long wedge-shaped flights to his distant 

 breeding-grounds in Hudson's Bay, alighting on the way 

 in the various large harbours which, from the extent of the 

 flats left uncovered by the receding tide, offer a secure 

 rest and an abundant supply of marine grasses. I know 

 of no more pleasing sight at this season than the passage 

 of a phalanx of wild geese : majestically cleaving the air 

 with slow, measured strokes, they press onwards towards 

 their distant resorts, hundreds of feet above you, now and 



X '2 



