French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1917-04-26
AN APRIL WALK.
Continued from Page 81

"AkJN1 4l2 lQClHll-
ties to which the COW paid not the
least attention.
Dotted about the grass were gold
en- dandelions. the dear, common
MOVERS that grow for rich and poor
n~our1shing in the most fertile OF soils
or by the stoniest OF roadsides. Holmes
speakes of itsstmpartial loneliness and
: says,
Though most. hearts never under
stand
To take it as Gods value, but pass by
The offered wealth with unrewarded
eye"
A gorgeous butterfly. the first / had
seen, quivered amidst the blades OF
grass. He was a pale lemo ncolor,
with deep markings of black, a dandy
amongst butterflies. SO his costume
would indicate.
After a time we wandered down the
spring branch to find Violets. There
they were, deep blue, long stems.
quantities of them effectively adorn-
ing the pretty. new leaves. We found
other violets as we went up the hill. a
lighter blue of different variety, but
equally lovely.
Ices are MASSES OF lacy
whiteness through the woods, the
sweet flowers draping the bare
branches in graceful f~estoons, and
making them quite bride-like in ap-
p%eGrance.
To my surprise the dog-wood is
beginning to bloom, though as yet it's
starry blossoms have not reached the
pure white stages. Over the creamy
4 Metals fhornb - lochn, 10 oripoHnr
and fushes of pink looking as though
they had been scattered by a joyous
careless hand. The s~axifrage is out
in every spot, turning bare, unsightly
corners into the loveliest gray and
garnet hooks.
We walked. not knowing or caring
where we were going, for just now
anywhere out of doors has the genuine
April charm. No normal human be =:
ing could be anything but glad in
these happy surroundings.
Twas n of the charmed days
When the genius of God doth flow,
The wind may alter twenty ways,
A tempest cannot blow;
1t may blow north, it still is warm
Or south it still is clear.
Or east it smells like a clover farm;
Or west no thunder fear"
long friend Of mine, had lost two
huge limbs and a part of it's top, I'M
doubtedly broken off by the heavy
weight of the winter sleet. Two
wood-peckers were busy in it's expos
ed decay. They gave me an indiffer-
ent glance, and kept steadily on in
their search for a meal. A pair of
F1ickers flew almost near enough to
touch as my footsteps startled them
from a rhododendron where they were
discussing plans for housekeeping,
and from a thicket of alders, slender
young naples, and sprawling BRAN
bles I heard the clear notes of a
blackbird. What a jolly fellow he is.
AS we say in politics, a good mixer.
More than pleased to be with his own
proper companions, but is their alb
sence hobnobbing with any feathered
creature who ONE along.
We left the hill to trudge through
a field. formerly cultivated, but long
since given over to the identifying in
huence of broom sedge, whose pale
tan winter garments is rapidly giving
place to it's spring costume of reddish
green. There were any number of
gray stumps about the field, and upon
one of these a crow sat in profound
meditation.
For ten minutes / watched him,
a feather rufded, he sat as mo-
rs though carved out of black
marble.
In the lower end Of the field were
twenty or thirty sheep with ever so
many lambs. Several OF them had
black faces and odd sploches of black
on their bodies. Of course there was
the proKerbial black sheep, q very
harmless, looking specimen too intent,
cropping the short grass to give
any time to mischief.
From there under q barbed wire
renee Upon which I left a piece Of my
curly locks, Is IN evidence of our
progress. However, we are not
iRunted by such tribes. so on We 20
% the mountain side, rising abruptly
rom the field to a point that seems
touch the sky. Here was arbutus.
lBe would haVe@knoWn that with our
Oyes shut, for the warm air was de-
ieiously fragrant with their pink and
White perfume. Somehow odorg and
,olOrs are so associated in my mind
hat in thinking Of the former / al |,
Ways clothe them in appropriate gar
nentg OF the latter. It seemed @ pity
take these children of the woods
rom there native hAunts and fitting /,
Om~panionship to the doubtful attrae-
iV0ness of a glass bowl in @ conven- :
ional p3rlor. but the temptation was :
90 much. and my hands were soon !.
all OF its cluster Of stars. How ma !
ure does repeat the star form, and /.
loW she seemBto love the number :
i've. /;
AS I gathered them I hearGl O faint :
ound in a chestnut tree neal me. and :
pom LOOKING up discovered q funny. :
rise looking little owl. He is sup :
osed to be q night bird but he gave no !.
OF his presence there In :
r0ad davTqh r questioned him but L