Earliest Signs of Spring 



intrinsic character, show the satisfaction in find- 

 ing in the external world a mirror of humanity. 



In their winter aspect some trees, like pop- 

 lars, cypresses, and cedars, vividly betray a 

 single life-purpose in their growth. Others are 

 more versatile; diffuse, and yet symmetrical, har- 

 monious, and unified; still others plainly show 

 they have no definite design, and are content to 

 sprawl in every direction, aimless and loose- 

 jointed ; while, in many trees, the very bark is 

 tell-tale of a rigid or compliant spirit lodged 

 within. But, by the last of March, many of 

 these strong, gaunt forms begin to have a live, 

 expectant look, as seen in the budding drops of 

 red with which the maples are already sprayed, 

 and in the long, brown catkins, swinging in 

 the breeze, of many of the amentaceous species. 



No omen of spring is more anticipated by 

 the naturalist than the clear call of the song- 

 sparrow; and few contrasts are stronger in 

 Nature than when, amid the silence of a breath- 

 less snowstorm in March, this hilarious and 

 irreverent creature interrupts the frozen bene- 

 diction of expiring winter. I have read of a 

 bird student — evidently a young one — who 

 boasted he had learned "the nine songs of the 

 song-sparrow." With a little more experience 



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