10 PIIEXOMENA OF PLANT-LIFE. 



children, lie scattered about the streets as though 

 Nature had lost her way. 



What the crocus during winter is in the earth, the 

 flower-buds of many trees are upon the boughs. These 

 very trees, which to the eye are least provided with 

 flowery charms, and which never aspire, even in the 

 height of their life, to be more than what neutral tints 

 are to the artist, — these very trees are in winter so 

 rich in wonder, as to take rank with the most alluring 

 forms of nature. The common hazel-nut in mid-win- 

 ter is hung with innumerable gray-green clusters ; the 

 alder and willow-buds swell with leafy effort ; the lat- 

 ter often burst before Christmas, and disclose their 

 silky contents. Everywhere there is the note of prep- 

 aration, and though the cold days and colder nights 

 may chill their sap, the movement is still upwards ; — 

 spring is the desire, spring is the promised land ; and 

 though the fireside may prove more inviting than the 

 woodland, and incuriousness may leave them all unob- 

 served, no matter ; every tree moves its steady way, 

 seeking outlets at a thousand points ; and by-and-by, 

 when a tempting afternoon carries our footsteps across 

 the meadows, we look round in congratulation that 

 spring is beginning, whereas in truth, it is we who 

 are just beginning to observe. Thus is. winter in con- 

 nection with plant-life, if we will only go forth and 

 learn, a time of grand assurance to us that nothing 

 ever absolutely ceases. The particular organs con- 



