The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-26
SPRING FOR 4 DRY.
Vegetable Life ia the Woodlands Respond.
ing TO Natures Waking Cull.

Punctual nature. needless OF cold and snow.
gave her waking call to vegetable life in the
very first week 81 March. The SHOWS Of the
blizzard were still lingering deep in suburban
hol.ows when the tightly closed blossoms Of
the spring beauty. like punches 0: tiny green
grapes. revealed themselves in the woodlands
to inQuisitive eyes. and the first springlike
Sunday came before mid March.
Sanguine folk who never grow weather-wise,
or at least never truly seasou-wise. were weak
enough TO believe that spring had really come.
but old weather students. hardened by re-
peated disappOintments. and we'll aware that
spiing never really does come in these parts
save spasmodically. a. the doctors say. were
content to enjoy the dcceittul appearances o.,
the first springlike day and to expect nothing.
Il was pleasant to discover for the first
time the misty dark neutral green that
begins to haunt the tops q the sassa-
fras trees long before they put forth
their mlttenllke leaves. II was pleasauter still
to see the robins bouncing about and to hear
them uttering a brief lit. stopped midway as
the March wind turned its chill side outward
"A for the sons sparrow. he. tattereI. dingy
musician that he il. had been pouring forth
his tipsy notes from shrub and fence top ever
since the latter days Of February.
1ou had only to look close at the elm buds to
see that they We're swollen. and the splcewood
was merely waiting for three warm days to-
gether to burst into ii mist OF pale gold and
flood the woodland as with rainy sunshine.
The skunk cabbage had thrust its purplish
horn in air. and early-stirring bees were visit
ing Il TO perform their spring miracle of trans
hitting the pollen of eartl's foulcst blossom to
only Just beneath the surface Of the ground.
and here and there the daffouils shone above
ground. like short. c.ose-set green teeth. The
honeysucklc. which in southern exposures
puts forth tentative lear buds all winter long.
showed new green stems, at al! It's nodes.
All day long the Wind blew Mid and stun
brous things stirred %uneasiiy In their outdoor
beds. Then came might. balmv and Mavlike.
with an occasional peeping frog. II wHs u true
spring sky. monuIr-S, but mellow AID serene.
with great fearful stars and 1t sound o! soft
Winds like the rustling OF garments about some
g.Gl4tlr hun henetlcent figure that moved in
visible through the lravanS Listening. one
heard from th. woodland III" call OF
the m'i-thrOated brook. IL restCul sound
that July heats will throttle into arid
silence. The never broken rumble and
hum of the suburban horizon came In Softoncd
uudertone, and southeastward m" stars were
drowned in the great pale spot that Overhangs
aud reflects the city'1 million electric lights.
The suhurbauite gazing at the starless spots
had u flushing vision Of the cver-wak"Iul Bow
cry. and of Fifth avenue polished, wind-Swept
asphalt beneath her white. winking lamps, and
turned with Il sense OF luxury 10 the peace Of
his own chant Ter and his pillow, soothed bv the
signing wind and !ul!ed by the murmuring
stream.