APRIL. 77 



lichens, kisses the purple orchids, makes glad the gloomiest 

 crannies of the wood. Scarcely a cave so dark, or ravine 

 so deep, but the light reaches to its uttermost bounds, and, 

 unlike the soulless glare of the midwinter sun, is life- 

 inspiring. There is a subtle essence in an April sun that 

 quickens the seeming dead. 



And while I have stood wondering at this strange 

 resurrective force, at times almost led to listen to the 

 bursting buds and steadily expanding leaves, a veil is sud- 

 denly drawn over the scene and the light shadows fade 

 to nothingness. Falling as gently as did the sunlight that 

 preceded it, come the round, warm rain-drops from a pass- 

 ing cloud. Gathering on the half-clad branches over- 

 head, they find crooked channels down the wrinkled bark, 

 poise upon the unrolled leaves, globes of unrivaled light, 

 or nestle in beds of moss, gems in a marvelous setting. 

 Anon the cloud passes, and every rain-drop drinks its fill of 

 light. There is no longer a flood of mellow sunshine here, 

 but a sparkling light — an all-pervading glitter. And it is 

 thoroughly inspiring. Your enthusiasm prompts you to 

 shout, if you can not sing, and the birds are always quickly 

 moved by it. From out their hidden haunts, in which 

 they have sat silently while it rained, come here and there 

 the robins, and, perching where the world is best in 

 view, extol the merits of the unclouded skies. Earnest 

 Sun- worshipers they, that watch his coming with impa- 

 tient zeal and are ever first to break the silence of the 

 dawn ; and all these April days their varying songs are 

 tuneful records of the changing sky. 



Does it mean nothing that the robins always go to 

 some commanding point, if not to the very top of the tree, 

 to sing ? Starr King, in one of his admirable lectures, 

 remarks : " You never surprise a dog, deer, or bear gazing 

 with satisfaction at the loveliness of the meadow, the curve 

 of a river, or the grandeur of a mountain. They see all 



