The Cecil Whig., 1881-06-04

some distance, in wild cherry tree. The
former | could both see and hear To good
advantage When he had sung through
his part, he stopped, and, with head cum
mngly askance, listened to his rival per-
Torrance: paying the most jealous atten-
tion, and, meanwhile. revolving some new
felicity of his own. Each time he slight
ly varied the cadence, winding up with a
piquant little crotchet, as who should
say, "Can You outdo that, ! wonder?'
The duel grew more animated with every
bout, until the performers, forgetting
the etiquette Of competition, sung the
''rests,' Intellectually trying to put each
other out A third voice could then be
nguished-probably that of the mod
orator, or Judge, who held the wager.
That long, clear, cool note, like the arc
described by bright new sickle-that's 5
the meadow lark. know we'll the springy
pasture where he hunts his breakfast, the
wind -crisped pools where he sometimes
dips his bill. His coming is not long de-
layed after the middle of March. The
blackbird is his contemporary. l saw a
whole flock of daring blackbirds career
ing above the gusty woods in the March
gale. They seemed to be exercising their
speed and agility in one of the heroic
games of the air. When they reached a
goal, or station, in the top of some high
tree. they disposed themselves about the
branches like so many weather vanes, all
facing i'll the same direction, and all in
dicating the south-southwest. This was
practically ''trimming to the wind. =
Their note, at that time, sounded very
much like the creaking of overlapping
| branches swayed by the wind. Further
on the blackbird has learned 4 new roper
tory, full of rppling pleasantness. well
illustrating the thrilling liquidity of
dewy piping
This April has some lovely exotic days
borrowed from the Indian summer and
applied on account of some April weather
i'll last October. The fall and spring have
many meteorological phases in common.
We have now the same luminous white
skies. the same drowsy luxury in the at
mospherc, with heat waves over the dis
tant fields, that were characteristic of
the Indian summer. The tawny and
crimson inflorescence of naples and other
early budding trees contributes to the
autumnal glamour of the picture. En-
cept for the greenness of the grass and a
certain terre and freshness within our
hearts, we might imagine we We're drift
ing up the source of the year, to find the
summer by way of October and Septem-
| Der. But the spring is here. There is
nothing dead OF ignoranic to be seen. The
maple brush left by the choppers last
winter is bourgeoning out, in cheerful
unconsciousness that its veins are cut of
from the artcrial supply. The log rotting
in the woods, if it puts forth no new life
in kind, at least supports lusty growth
of ferns and moses. Who knows how
much stubborn rock went to mill, last
winter, to be ground up into good fertile
SOLE Who knows but the very stones are
so(teninc. continually growing more ten
plants as are disposed to take up their
abode with them" ! should not be sur
| prisel to hear that nature herself was the
Pyrrha who, surviving the deluge, and
casting stones behind her to repeoplo the
earth, saw them resume organic life and
form. The earth breathes freely once
more. respiring vapor and gnats from the
frcsh-turned soil; and as the farmer goes
back and forth, blowing out the old legend
of Boustrophedon, he is followed by the
robin and blackbird, diligently gruh-hunt-
! ing. They may well chuckle to them
selves, and claim priority in the profits
Of tillage; in their view of the question,
mans harvest is only after -math.
How luxurious is the feeling of the dew
in the first moist April nights. The sharp,
the west No more hurting of frost
javelins and Jagged meteor lances, but,
instead the soft descent of humid beams
that have been filtered through the same
sieve that strains the dew. If you require
an additional proof of the season settled
good faith, if you would have the spring
well indorsed, walk under the trees, this
evening. and observe if anything iorbids
your progress. Nothing but a slight
ticklish thread stretched across your eye,
lids, like the gcntlest premonition OF
sleep. That will do. That is the spider
Endorsement of the spring. When she
harnesses her loom, and begins her sea.
sons weaving, you may be sure she has
had favorable advices from the head
weather clerk.
May-day. The meadow borders are
full of wild flowers: cIaytonia. cress, al
der tongue, violet, butter cup, sweet
william, liver wort, cranes bill. bloom
and flow tosether.in rich chromatic con
fusion. The trilium hangs over the dark
pool with the melancholy grace of Mar
cissus worshiping his shadow. The vib
urnum very fifty nick named hobble
bushJ reaches up its scragsy hands, witt
a few scant cymes Of very pretty white
flowers. Notice that the Spring wears
in her cap no feverish or radical color
carnation and Tyrian purple are reserved
for the gaudy decking of the latter Sum
mer. \ few forward shrubs have, by
this time, put out Il sparse LEAKAGE, still
creased and criukled. and of small vital
ity (like butterflies just emerged from
the chrysalis.) The air that circulate
through the branches seems to have gath
cred chlorophyl by contact with th
leaves, and the sunshine passing int
their medium becomes bright gree,
flame. The gentle race of zephyrs ha
sprung up again. The wind has {
changed articulation: no longer breath
ing out "holIow oes and aes" as when i
had full sweep through the naked frame
of the trees. but breaking into a thou
sand petty symphonies, i'll its wandering
among the leaves.
In the Spring of the year, when TIN
spirit of beauty enters into so man,
earthly tabernacles, we return to the an
oient pantheism. Naiads. fauns, breads
hamadryads, the whole sylvan comm,l
nifty are once more accessible and social
The word nymph, who taught Kin!
Numa the elements of science. letters