The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-03-24
Rates of Advertlsinr.
For the Telegraph.

Spring is coming, and: how the glad sound
thrills through all hearts, inspiring us with
new life and vigor. To the wasted invalid,
who has been shut away from the pure air
all the long cold winter, the prospect is es
pecially revivifying. Of the snow, which
has SO persistentIy and provokingly chung
to the narrow roads, and the east sides of
fences for so long, there is now scarce a
trace to be seen. The soft, south wind seems
to boast of having kissed green leaves and
opening blossoms Yet the sky is draped
with dull, gray clouds, and the oak woods
are brown and bare, or with the withered
leaves still clinging to the trees All the
fields have faded, dead look, and there is
not sign of living vegetation in the land
scape, except an occasional dark cedar.
One might doubt whether Spring is really
coming, and ask for proof Here are sure
signs in the up-coming plants of this tulip
bed. And over there, in the woods, per-
son who 'fsees with his eyes," will find
abundant proof of Springs approach, in the
vivid brightness and fresh life of the mosses
The eastern slope of the hillside is gay with
little tufts of green moss, which is in bios.
som, If you may use such term in speaking
Of the simple heads that bear the spores by
which this class of plants is propagated.-
The green-capped heads of thess little tufts
are borne on tiny, red and yellow stems.
which appear as smooth and polished as
needles. Interspersed with these, are smooth
round punches of moss some brown, some
green, such as we used to gather, and put
in our play houses for pincushions. Here is
a log, which for years and years has lain
here, prey to dry decay. The moss has
pity on the fallen king, and has crept up the
Wondering sides, and along the barkless
trunk and enveloped the whole with its
beautiful forms. Here are varieties almost
innumerable, making forest in miniature
Almost unconsciously, our thoughts arc led
up to that Kind One, who has caused even
the smallest of these small moses TO grow.
Looking at this forest of moss, we see some
with waxy red tops.
Here is specimen that looks like small
and delicate tree, Of a pale green COLOR
There IS the trunk, and here the branches
and if we carefully remove the mould from
the base, we shall see the slender rootIets-
Here is another of a different color, partly
brown and partly green, rnffle-shaped that,
spreading out, clings closely to the wood
Another hangs in long festoons ofmany-times
divided leaves
Here is another still, the leaves of which
look like little scales set one upon another,
while if you take nearer view, you will
see the belI-shaped blossom, with small STAN
ems, protruding like little tassels. Let me
present one or two more specimens, for it
would be impossible to enumerate all grow
ing even on this log, much less could de-
scribe them to you. Leaving the ruin Of
the tree, we advance to the left, to the see
dar moss" plot. We always called it 'tcedar
moss" because we think it looks SO much
ike cedar. In this same spot it has grown
and fourished for years, and here we always
seek it. The moss is about an inch in
height, with sharp, thin leaves growing
thickly around the stem. 1t is crowned
with a round and pretty pink blossom.
The most curious part of this is, that ev-
cry Spring, after Towering, from the center
of the flower proceeds the Summers growth.
have sometimes found specimens on which
were the remains Of three or four blossoms
Lastly, are some curious specimens of
moss,in shape like wine-cups, of pale green
color, and look as if they had been sprinkled
with white dust From the center of the
larger cups springs one, two and sometimes
three smaller ones. This is but the merest
glancing at my little favorites. They COM
prise all shapes, and all shades of red, brown
green and silver-gray colors.
March IA, 1864. CRDARA
o.