SIGNS OF SPRING 



The approach of spring is felt, rather than rea- 

 soned about. There is that in us which rises to 

 greet the incoming tide of the year before our 

 eyes have apprised us of any change. Winter lies 

 over the world much as ashes are banked on coals 

 for the night, which nevertheless retain their heat 

 and will be found alive and glowing in the morn- 

 ing. In the tropics the fire is not banked and 

 there is no cold dawn with anticipations of the 

 kindly blaze soon to arise, no gradual uncovering 

 of the cheerful coals. Here in New England the 

 dawn is rigorous and spring more welcome. The 

 winter buds are evidence that it is not far away, 

 and it takes but the least encouragement at any 

 time for this latent heat and life to awake and show 

 itself in the high blueberry twigs. Such buoyant 

 faith has the skunk-cabbage it never entirely loses 

 sight of spring, but exerts some spell over its 

 muddy bed, whereby you may see that there, at 

 least, it has already come in November. 



II 



