42 LEAVES FROM AN APRIL JOURNAL. 



plainer, and resemble the trembling shadows of 

 wavelets and water ripples under bridges and 

 around docks. At times, the puffs of wind blow 

 the dancing atoms away, as it would a swarm of 

 gnats, that again appear when the wind subsides. 



The apple-orchards are trimmed, the first spring's 

 work on the farm. How bright and fresh the chips 

 and squarely-cut ends of the twigs appear, in con- 

 trast to the dark bark, and how rich the perfume 

 of the oil of pyrus ! It is the fragrance peculiar 



to certain cottage hearths. A chimney on R 's 



hiU in winter and spring always emits an incense 

 of burning apple-tree wood. The air is spiced with 

 it, and retains the scent as the perfume of cologne 

 is retained in a kerchief. The f uU, rich, mellow 

 alto of the red-wing, like the first liquid note of the 

 bobolink, is suited to the day. Even that crow's 

 note yonder, corresponds with the pleasant spring 

 sunshine. There is not a hint of his usually harsh 

 voice in it, but a contented, satisfied ca-ca-ca-ca, 

 repeated at regular intervals and quite rapidly, as 

 if the bird, for once, had his crop full, and was at 

 peace with all the world. This cannot be his love- 

 note, for it is heard occasionally throughout the 

 open season. 



The day is so warm that the robin, whose voice 



