The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-04-07
APRIL THE MONTH OF SHOWERS
Its Glory an Opening Door to
General spring.


The seasons most Interesting month,
and the one which usually brings the
years best promise Of the brighter glad
der days coming, came this year against
March-like northwest wind; but he day
was fun OF early spring sunshine. aud was
not so cold as its predecessors. The early
birds were seen and heard in the suburban
districts and in the surrounding country.
CrOcus beds. here and there. were in fun
blossom. and nothing is more springlike
20 he eye than these beds OF gold end
pale-purple bloom. The crOCus. like the
pausy. is the flower Of April In the edge
Of some pieces OF woodland. where the
April sunshine lies warm 90 the south
ward slope the trailing arbuJus. hiding
under the dead leaves. can usually be
found In full and fragrant blossom before
'-e end OF the first half Of the month
sometimes even before the actual depart
ure OF March. It's spicy odor is as delicate
and pleasurable. and as suggestive Of The
shy woodland life it has developed, as the
Srst song OF the "bToWn-thrasher." the
king vocalist Of our forest border thrush
IS. who comes later in the month. April
is called. and with reason. a hclle month
giving but little assurance tat least cur
ing its first half whether 10 is to Hood the
scene with warm sunshine or with pour
ing rain But April contrives 10 make this
very mixture. or blending, OF shine aud
shower delightful
Like soul, tlst balance Jos and pain
With tears and smiles from heaven again
The maiden Spring upon The plain
Cam, lu o suuiit iaii Of rain
That HITS the April character accurately.
The "sunlit fall Of rain. " though not very
frequently seen. especially In the months
first half is 90 charming a spring feature
when 10 does occur. that one remembers IL
long as an April delight. The caprici0us
month, with all it's whfms and contradic-
tions. Is he first % the neW years moons
10 bring 20 our New England fields the
welcome fresh ynts Of green OF the start
ing grass-the first hue seen. Of all the
world OF life and color that the later spring
and summer open for us. In sun favored
spots. on city lawns. this emerald tint IS
already discernible. II WI soon become
general. for the lawns and little later
for the fields. II needs the warm April
showers 10 start H.
The migrating birds Will now begin 10
appear. The robin. the bluebird. the
CHEEKY song sparrow. the meaG0wiark and
the 'wake-up' OF yeIloyvhammer appeared
in his part OF Connecticut IN the middle OF
MAJ ch. Probably they had not gone South.
with the mass OF their kinds. in the
autumn. but continued 70 I've through our
New England winter subs sting on cedar
berries and other dubious fare and hiding
in the shelter OF the swamps and forest
hemlocks 10 shield them a little from the
zero weather But these hardy Birds. be-
longing 10y ,.inship 10 the great body OF
migrants. are he exception TO the rule
The iustanct OF the great mass teaches
them better wiser course-to 90 South.
after the northern summer has fed. and
follow on her skirts TO a winter which Is
more such In name than in reality-return-
ing 10 their native Northern fields i'm the
early bright days OF spring
There are TWO great migratory move
ments northw3rd now-one in the upper
air the other in the sea. The shad Is
one Of the fish that come nOrthward with
the early birds Where the shad goes. on
leaving BIS native river for the South
who can say? He goes somewhere. in the
far sea-curIents, where he grows big and
fat; possibly in that oceanic Amazon Of
life in variety the Gulf Stream. He be-
gins his northward journey home in Inc
winter-hrst trying the big river Of FlorI-
da: but the n1tive Connecticut River shad
will always return TO his native stream
or would. il the Strengthening pounds on
the Connecticut side Of Long Island Sound
would let him; and at any rate he gets
here, like the new Easter hat and many
otSer good things, in April