212 AT THE NORTn OF BE ARC AMP WATER. 
Towards Whitton Pond, then, I directed my 
steps this gray morning. 
Taking the Conway road from the Chocorua 
House, I walked northward upon it rather more 
than three miles to what is known far and near 
in this country as the Bell Schoolhouse in Al¬ 
bany. Perhaps the bell uses its tongue in dark 
nights when the wild storm-wind sweeps down 
from Chocorua, and the forest groans under its 
stripes. Certainly its tones are not heard in 
the sunlit hours, as the bats in its belfry and 
the spiders in its schoolroom can bear witness. 
As I passed up the eastern side of Chocorua 
Lake, under the great pines which guard its 
shore, a flock of ducks rose from the water and 
flew towards the south, then wheeling, returned 
and vanished far in the north. There were 
seven of them, six flying neck and neck in an 
even row, and one lagging behind. The six 
were apparently snowy white with dark mark¬ 
ings on heads and wings; the laggard was dark 
colored. 
One often hears in February and March that 
signs of early spring are growing numerous, 
that red buds are swelling on the maples, cat¬ 
kins have come upon the alders, and that many 
another shrub or tree is pushing out its new 
life. Noticing the alder catkins swinging in 
the wind, I measured several and found them 
