A RAMBLE IN THE WOODS. 
41 
mighty, says : " As an eagle stirretli up her nest, fluttereth over 
her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth 
them on her wings, so the Lord alone did lead him" — as we read 
in the Song of Moses, in Deuteronomy. 
Saturday, 15th. — Cool rain, at intervals, for the last day or 
two ; pleasant again this afternoon. Walked in the woods look- 
ing for flowers ; went some distance in vain, but at last near the 
summit of the hill we found a bunch of fresh ground laurel, the 
first wild blossoms of the year to us, and prized accordingly ; 
there were many more in full bud, but no other open. 
Since we were last in the woods, the squirrel-cups ijiepaticas) 
have sprung up ; their modest little lilac cups, in half-open buds, 
are hanging singly here and there over the dead leaves, and very 
pretty they are in this stage of their short life ; they have a timid, 
modest look, hanging leafless from their downy stalks, as if half 
afraid, half ashamed of being alone in the wide woods ; for their 
companion, the ground laurel, remains closely wrapped in the 
Avithered leaves. It cannot be said that either of these plants is 
fairly in bloom ; they are only opening — a slow process with the 
arbutus, but a rapid one with the hepatica. The mosses are in 
great beauty now ; several varieties are in flower, and exquisitely 
dehcate ; the dark brownish moss, with its white-capped flowers 
and tiny red stalk, and a dainty companion of hght green, with a 
blossom of the same tint, are in perfection. Wherever we went, 
they were so abundant, and so beautiful in their spring freshness, 
as to delight the eye. 
Fresh grass butter from the farm to-day. 
Monday, 17 tk. — A few white-beUied swallows sailing over the 
village yesterday ; but one swallow does not make a summer, nor 
