EARLY SPRING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 239 
The yellow-spotted tortoise may be seen Feb¬ 
ruary 23, as in 1857, or not till March 28, as in 
1855, a variation of thirty-three days. 
The wood-frog may be heard March 15, as 
this year, or not till April 13, as in 1856, a va¬ 
riation of twenty-nine days. 
Thus tried by these four tests, March fluctu¬ 
ates about a month, receding into February or 
advancing into April. 
March 27, 1840. Think how finite, after all, 
the known world is. Money coined at Phila¬ 
delphia is a legal tender over how much of it. 
You may carry ship-biscuit, beef, and pork quite 
round to the-place you set out from. England 
sends her felons to the other side for safe-keep¬ 
ing and convenience. 
March 27, 1841. Magnanimity, though it 
look expensive for a short course, is always 
economy in the long run. To make up a great 
action there are no subordinate mean ones. 
We can never afford to postpone a true life to¬ 
day to any future and anticipated nobleness. 
We think if by tight economy we can manage 
to arrive at independence, then indeed we will 
begin to be generous without stay. We sacri¬ 
fice all nobleness to a little present meanness. 
If a man charge you $800 pay him $850, and it 
will leave a clean edge to the sum. It will be 
like nature, overflowing and rounded like the 
