Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-03-29
Spring.

\ 'OuiesS alt signs ihu Wo snhn nave 40
early spriugr' That 10 heard at this
season about every year. Sometimes all
signs fail and sometimes they don't! IT
is TO be hoped they won't this year.
Mr. and Mrs. Crow have been out all
winter, and Mr.. and Mrs. Robin with
Mr.. and Mrs. Bluebird arrived from the
south about March 10. They must
have thought, or knew, by some bird
signs of which humans are not cognizant,
that this was to be an early spring. 1t
Is fortunate they came by airplane, for
human winter tourists In the south have
the same idea as the birds that this Is
going to be an early spring up north and
are fighting for reservations In Pull,
mans headed toward Pslaris. These are
some of the signs by which unfortu-
yates who cannot 90 south winters come
to a conclusion II Is to be an early
spring. One can't help hoping the signs
will come true.
There are frogs for instance. One
listens for their peepiug each day at
night fall, not because the sound 10 80
musical-and it 10 not unmusical-oply
a little monotonous-a recitative on one
note-but because Ii Is q sign of spring.
1t is . sign of spring with the frogs,
also, for they only give this recitstive
at this time Of year. Perhaps one should
not call this piper frog but q toad;
for 10 is the srboreal member of the fam
lily and generally known rs . tree toad,
although nsturalists describe him rs q
by bold amphibisn. II one has any
doubt about this, catch one of them.
He will be found TO be something of a
joke-to have bells on bis toes, or rather
suckers. That fixes whore he belongs.
ae does not need suckers to swim with,
or jump .with-unless IL Is up the per-
pendicuhr trunk of . tree. he does not
lose his song with the spring, although
one never hears his falsstto piping sx-
cept at that season of the year. Per.
hsps be 10 too joyful at this time for
later he becomes pessimist and takes
up new song-s garrulous prophecy of
rain.
he is the forerunner of the true am-
green bull frogs, who
entertain Us later with scsndalous croak
ipgs. No matter what the laws may be
or what the Womsn's Christian Temper
snce Uniou may say, he will stick bis
head up out Of placid pond among the
lily pads with an innocent, don't care
about the mouth, but ready
to duck If stone is thrown, and blurts
out:
"Jug.o-rumi Jug-o-rump
Quite likely be will keep right on this
year, even II there is q Volstead Law.
This piping Of frogs suggests there
must be q strange kind Of madness that
takes possession Of all living things in
the spring. A woman, and even q man,
will write verse at this time Of year; but
then they, especially the men. will COM
NIT poetry for smaller temptation.
One welcomes any kind Of life In
April. Catsrpillars, which one makes
Ioup of st any other time Of year with
The sole of ones foot, or salad II he hap
pens to be crawling on plantain leaves,
IS avoided now thar be or she may pro-
iced along q favorite path undisturbed.
II these creeping things expect spring
weather, most of them come prepared
for cold for they wear fur overooats.
Then there are butterflies. Most any
kind of butterfly is welcome now. Most
Of these seen thus early are dark colored
with wings dark brown or rusty black.
A butterfly has been considered by some
rs q symbol of immortslity-s sort of
ring round Rosy" affair with three
chrysalis and image, for
aver and forever, world without end
but II one happens TO step on the cater. |
pillar, or 10 wicked enough to run q |
pin through the fly and hang him up for
; specimen, that Is an end of the immor. |
tslity scheme.
Early butterflies come out of the |
stage discouraged. That is
why they are so dull and dark colored. |
But they are ambitious for their prog.
eny. They want their daughters who |
come later arrsyed in bright colors-l
more in keeping with the good old sum-
mer time-in figured orgsndies, voiles,
georgettes and one knows not what.
One gets surprised In these somber
hued flies, as one does sometimes ip ug-
" human parents, by the gay children
shsy can produce. But why notP
Selfshness rules the world, 30 tits
said, but there 10 little Of sltruism In |
this polymorphic desire that ones Of |
spring should have pleasanter time |
than the parents had; that they may be |
dressed . little more In keeping with the |
'ummer-be gay, eat, drink and be mer-
ry-for do they not know that with the |
will come winter and death, |
when dun colored clothing will be good
enough.
AQUARIUs.