Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-03-26
springtime in the Country.


Respectfully inscribed the farmers,
their wives and children of Gratiot
County.
The cold chilling winds the ice and the snow
That mantle the earth, must presently 40.
For the mandate has passed from the lips OF
the King.
make WAY ana prepare. for the coming of
spring
So beautiful spring, the queen of the year.
i coming, IL ha~ting, IL almost here
Glad tidlngs indeed. But q dear me.
How great Is the change that shOrtly nurt be
see poor old winter with his burden Of rim
lie must hustle around 10 bc off on time.
But what Will he do with his victories won:
ana VINO VIII redress the wrongs he has
done;
Ana no viii assuage the sorrow and pain.
caused by his rigorous, mcrcilcss reign
Aud who viii unbnd his prisoners bound
Under the whit snow I'm the cold ground
The streams and the brooklets locked i'm the
wise
OF the beautifully pure, but motionles- ice,
Ana who Will remove the mantle OF white
That wells the fair bosom OF nth from our
Not he. the old tyrant, his scepter is done:
Ana fugitive now, he must leave all and
run.
So sweet smiling spring appears on the scene
Ana her presence inspires rs "a radiant queen.
one swift glance reveals the work To he dome
- she calls To her aid the powerful sun.
She bids him shine warm; She bids him shine
high;
And aint with bright colors the blue vaulted
She bids him shine warm on the snow cover.
ed ground;
And scatter bright sunshine profusely
She calls for the south wind, and soft wind,
to blow.
To aid the warm sun. in melting the snow.
she calls To- the BIRDS, from the south, and ere
The air Is made vocal with MARBLE and song
Time flies apace almost i'm "a dav.
The frost and the snow have vanished away.
The strong icy letters, by 'vercign decree.
Are broken and scattered-the captives 90
free.
The meadows and orchards. the hilIsidcs and
plain,
Appear in their brown autumn aspect again.
The bro ks. and the brooklets, go bounding
With musical cadence, and snatchcs of song
kcHectlng the sunshine a onward they glide
Through meadows and brambles that bend
Ger their side
Rejoicing in freedom. and glad TO bee free
10 return 10 the bosom of the far mother sea.
Higher and higher. the sun mounts the sky:
And brighter and warmer, ~ the days 20 by.
The herds ana the hock- respond to the
Ana. naturally, pine for freedom and range
The col Is and the cattle, wander on down the
lane
I'm search of "a bite of fresh pasture AGAIN.
They lub on the rtls-theV ha~k i'm the sun
Al Il seem 10 be happy, that winter il gone.
The sheep file out To the meadow 10 Craze,
And the lambs scamper of, IN round about
race.
They hop mp and down; they skip and they
run,
And then they lie prone to stretch i'm the sun.
The pigs, and the old one, cuddlc down by the
stack.
To let the warm sun, stream down on then
back
But soon The whole family is all fast asleep,
Ana lazi y lie there all in heap.
The hens and the geese now, free from
restraint,
Are brim fun of business, and noisy complaint.
They have, qWurcl~ To settle; and nests 10 he
made;
And rights to defend; and eggs to be Imd.
But. nevertheless. It's a pref V sure thing
That, clear down to their toe-nails, they're
glad il is spring.
The notes of the robin are heard in the trees
And the ear j. disturbed by the whiz OF the
bees.
The dome of thes sky, is 80 beautifully fair:
While the -himmeling heat. quiver> All
through the air.
But around the old farmhouse there is quiet
and hu h.
For the children have gone, with the men to
the bush
Where the sap in the kettles, the sweet in
Are boiling and bobbins as fast a. they can
The buckets all over are fun to the brim,
And the boys are Just hu~t'1ng, to gather il in.
y
Which father L. tending, II almost done.
And round II the children, with saucer and
spoon,
Have been daubing their faces, ever since
Aud dropped ON II log, is "a great block Of ice.
Smearcd over " it'll WAY, 80 brittle and nice.
Back in the snant v there's "a tail pile OF cakes;
~ solid a. brickbats, and white rs snow
flakes
And barrel of syrup specially boiled down.
To tickle the palatc~ of people i'm town.
Hoy children look a of nuf
Hear thai old WOodpcckcr- rub-r. dub. dub
Hank ont in the bushes. oil Rover, the dog,
Has corralled a wOOdchuck, ina great hollow
But a. soon a. the boys get the sap gathered
in,
Look out, Mr.. woodchuck your chances are
slim.
And down in the swule, among the wet log- ,
Hear that Jubilee concert, carried on by the
frogs
4 sort OF reunion, and free for.al peep,
AFTER their recent, long, hypnotlzed sleep
But let the bird peck. the dog bark, the
frogs sing.
lis the time to be happy, It's beautiful spring.
But deep in the bosom, OF old mother earth
A new creation Travelling i'm birth.
An cmbrN % forest lies pcnt in the mould
And an Eden of flowers, which may not un
The grains and the grasses, wherever they
tread,
Seem with red and limp seem blasted and
dead.
And the millions of seeds, the growth of last
year;
So lavi-hly scattered. may not rcappcar
rs II old winter, with plague smitten breath
Had brcathcd into the soil, devastation and
death.
But wait, and be patient, tin yonder btigh;
Shall proceed with his mission, 50 well now
begun.
Wait, and be- aticut. tin showers OF rain
Have moi~tcncd the soil of woodland and
plan.
Wait. tin The voice OF the spring shall be
heard,