Intimations. 39 



storm of the season came last night, and, by the 

 almanac, spring commences to-morrow. It will 

 begin terribly handicapped; but mankind seems 

 more disturbed than the birds, for on the maples 

 there are song-sparrows that sing their May-day 

 melodies, and from the upper air comes the hope- 

 ful whistle of the robin. This is well, so far as it 

 goes ; but the snow is a set-back, do what we will. 

 It is a contradiction; a confusing of familiar 

 things ; a condition that is repugnant, in spite of 

 novelty, to dig your spring flowers from a snow- 

 bank; but this was the only way, on and after 

 March 18. 



March skies, March atmosphere, midwinter 

 earth : these the conditions now ; and no wonder 

 that my companion asked, " What have you to say 

 of intimations of spring to-day?" Everywhere 

 endless acres of snow-clad fields, huge drifts by 

 the river-shore, and, beyond, that glittering, steel- 

 blue water that is far colder than any ice. I looked 

 about for maple blossoms, but they were tightly 

 closed and brown. The larch had hidden its 

 promises of spring-tide, and there was nothing to 

 be said. The world had rolled backward many a 



