110 
NATURE FOR ITS OWN SAKE 
In early 
spring. 
The skele- 
ton of nat- 
ure. 
ice. The winding courses they follow and the 
beautiful forms of snow-drifts into which they 
finally resolve themselves, are distinct features 
of the snow-landscape. 
The early days of March when the snow is 
beginning to melt, when the rocks on the hill- 
side heave out of the white, and odd patches of 
ground show dull gray or brown, are usually 
considered the dreary days of the year. Most 
people declare the country “stupid” at this 
time and house themselves in cities if they can ; 
but to some nature-lovers it is perhaps the most 
interesting season of all. The snow on the side- 
hill still lingers; but the meadows are bare, 
the brooks are swollen, the ice is gorged in 
the river, the valleys are shining with pools 
of water. The skeleton of nature is pushing 
through its winter mantle at every point ; but 
if we look at it with appreciative eyes we shall 
find the bills and the rocks and the bare trees 
beautiful as outlines merely—beautiful in their 
rugged, broken angles and their traceries of 
line against the snow or sky. Besides, there 
is some little color noticeable all through the 
winter in the red stems of the maples and the 
birch, in the ruddy glow of the swamp bushes. 
This color begins to heighten in March and 
