Year: 1871

BEST. What a f1chsia that is Almost
five inches long, and dreadfully double.


a person would not want more than one


such fuchsia. And when we come to the


early vegetables, the mind, edged on by


the appetite, gives way in food of sensa-


tions. A photograph of a section of the


Trophy tomato, covering a broad page. l


mistook it at first for view of the moon,


and thought we had got exalted out OF


horticulture into astronomy. Heaven
seems within reach, with one of these cat


alogues. This plate looks little, however


like those awful pictures that used to be


exhibited by temperance lecturers, called


views of drunkard's stomach L don't


say this to iniure this tomato, which IS no


doubt the best, being the latest; but |


think this specimen is rather enlarged and


infamed. Specimens are apt to be, IN cat


alogues. But, after all, wouldn't give


up the spring catalogues. They fill these
dull Gays-which will come to to check
the advance of the best drilled spring
with color, odor, and the most delight


full anticipations.


The brooks have got free, for another
thing, and begun that purling noise which
is one of the most pleasing sounds of the
reviving year. 1t sends thrill through


the nerves of the trout fisher, who begins


to get his tackle in order. One would


think that the softening influence of the
season would have a contrary effect on
man but he shows his delight in it by de-
sire to kill something. The young trout
-, ,,rg,,~,,-oio-,S1v- IN tho fa
pools; but shy by what Mr.. Darwin
would call inherited instinct, based on ex-
perience of danger to their tribe. 1t
might comfort them to know that in this
state the legislature has given them
months respite this year. They have the
law on their side till April Fools Day.
And we, who make the laws for women as
well as fish, call this generosity. But
trout fishing comes very near to being
virtue. We cannot yet walk on tue spongy
grass BY the brook-side; but it will very
soon be firm, green, and full OF the odor
of spring, strewn with cowslips, and firing
ed with the budding willow. In woods
and on sunny slopes there Is already new
stir. The sap has begun to 90 up the tree
trunks; though the buds, at the moment
| write, have not beard of it, and still
keep their varnish on. Undes the leaves
the arbutus is very restless, the buds al
already getting color. These shy plants
and the birds have most faith in spring
men and women begin unconsciously to
show it, as yet, only by increased careless
ness about leaving the house doors open.


But it Is coming. We have felt the
breath of it in the south wind. The sun
higher day by day, and goes to
roster setting. The spring poems begin to
appear in the newspaper corners. The
editors are always first to scent a change.
Winter will return to the charge again
and again but will always be discounted,
the rent clouds showing after each strug-
gle wider patches of deeper blue. 1t can
not be long now TO spring bonnets, when
Lent gives way to the gay colors of fash
ion, tempered by religious experiences
and the manly mind comes to that season
IF confidence in Nature when backing
stays on boots. 1t is coming. Every
root in the soil feels IT. The wind at night
changed its tune. The rain is not hostile,
ike that of autumn but every shower
opens new avenues to the spring In all
mysterious ways the new life is stirring.
The resurrection is st hand, and the Eas-
er hymn.-Tbe Independent.