Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-18

G PRING was approaching. Every
thing heralded the fact. The trees
~ sap was coming from their roots
to their branches, and tiny buds were
appearing on bush and bough, promis-
ing very early blossoms.
One morning fine old gray squirrel
came from his winter quarters in a
huge hollow tree and sat on bare
branch, enjoying the aspect of a change
of seasons with apparent delight.
Spring" he said, shifting the air.
Spring, the most glorious of all the
seasons!" s-
"Oh, why should you say that, dear
friend Mister Graytail?" 1t was a soft
voice that spoke, and old Mister Gray
tail (for that was the name of the old
squirreD turned about and looked for
the owner of the voice which he
had recognized as that of pretty
neighbor lady squirrel. On seeing her
perched on the nearby limb he smiled
and said: Morning to you Lady Pink
nose. Isn't this glorious dawn? See
the sun coming over the eastern hills!
And scent the warmth that is coming
from old Mother Earth in whose bosom
sleep the billions of blossoms and
grasses, only waiting to be called from
slumber by the lovely maiden, Miss
Spring"
yes. it is a divine morning, and I
have come forth early to enjoy it, said
Lady Pinknose. And now / wish !
had brought my son and daughter TO
enjoy the early spring sunshine. It's
the first time that we have had warmth
80 early in the day during this month.
But, returning to your soliloquy, Mis-
ter Graytail, you were saying that the
spring is the most glorious of all the
seasons. Now, don't quite agree with
you"
.What--don't agree that the spring
is the most glorious of all the sea-
sons?' asked old Mister Graytail in
some surprise. 'Well. how can you
say such a thing? Isn't the spring Just
right in temperature? Isn't everything
coming into life in the spring? Doesn't
old winter steal away when he hears
the soft footsteps of the gentle maiden.
Miss SPRING." And old Mister Gray
tail sat upright and wiped his nose
with the end of his tail.
Yes, the spring is very lovely ad-
mitted Lady Pinknose. But so Is the
summer. And I can say the same for
autumn and the winter. They are all
glorious"
"Oh, ha, ha, hal laughed old Mister
Graytail.- 1.-THE winter glorious? why.
it is cold enough to freeze the hair on
a brass monkey, my dear. How can
you say the winter is lovely?"
''Tll admit that the winter brings us
some very cold days and nights,
smiled Lady Pinknose, "but with those
cold days and nights come many nap
py hours. For instance, when the snow
Is flying about and the winds are
bowling through the branches, aren't
we Just too happy to be in our snug
houses with warmth and with plenty
to eat? And you should remember the
keen enjoyment of running out for
bit of exercise and a game of hide
and-seek when the snow lies deep on
the ground. Why, I've seen you as
happy and merry as your own young
son when frolicking in the snow. AND,
then, how we all gather together IN
some cave under the rocks and nave a
winter festival! Why, my good friend,
how can any season be finer than the
winter? It's glorious! And the win
ter sunshine is sthe most perfect of
sunshines, for 1t never blisters nor
burns, but it is just genial and well
come"
well, guess you are right about the
winter" agreed old Mister Graytan.
you see, I had not thought over the
many lows we have together during the
storms and colds. But now do recall
the many pleasures of games and social
intercourse we have had during the past
few months and the colder it was the
jollier we all became. Yes, III With
draw what said about old Sage Win
Ter. Out ICllidii P1ti ViA "iAsNs = 49,
intimated about Dame Summer and
her daughter. Mistress Autumn. They
are both very disagreeable."
"Oh, say not so, say not so, my
friend" cried Lady Pinknose What
can be nicer than the summer? Why,
think of the long, warm days when not
a leaf stirs on the branches and the
water in the brook looks like the sky
dropped to earth. And how green
everything is-trees, grass, hedges-all
so fresh in the morning when laden
with dew! All, the summer is so joy
ous!"
"But it is hot" declared Mister Gray
tail. "If it were cooler would like 1T
more"
mo. you would like it less" declared
Lady Pinknose, "for then it would be
no different from the spring or autumn
So, you see. the summer, like the win
ter, is characteristic of itself and has
advantages that the other seasons do
not possess. 1 say the summer, the win
ter, the spring, the autumn are alike
beautiful-delightful!"
"Well. I'll grant that the summer is