lO A FORWARD MARCH. 



like bits of white wool, and the grasses, in warm, 

 springy places, lifted up to the first call of the 

 sun their fervent, impetuous blades. How prom- 

 ising and hopeful are these firstlings ! It seems 

 irreverent to kill or pluck them now, they are so 

 exultant. The most sensitive hylodes, I dare say, 

 were allured from their hibernacles by the bland- 

 ishments of the weather, to strike the keynote of 

 Spring. 



Not only are the first days of March bright, 

 but the nights also are resplendent with millions 

 of suns ! Each evening a new picture is painted 

 on the screen of the western sky, with variety of 

 cloud designs and changing colors. No sooner 

 does "Old Sol" hide his face behind the curvature 

 of earth than he begins to throw up the rich hues 

 and dash the vapors with gorgeous tints. Scarlet, 

 rose, orange and purple scraps of mist are lined 

 with shining gold. Long before the grand illu- 

 mination has paled in mellow twilight, the faithful 

 ranger shoots his beams of light across to Venus 

 that goes careering down the sky after her lord 

 and master. How radiant and full-blown is her 

 beauty! " Like some fair lady in her casement," 

 she turns her sparkling eye down to view her 

 sister's earth-plodding children. 



To-day (the 20th), groups of people are gathered 

 at the street corners to catch a glimpse of the lit- 

 tle planet, as did ^neas the Trojan prince, and 



