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 earth seemed upon the point of awakening. There was warm sunshine, a clear blue sky, the winding creek, now almost free from ice and glittering like polished gold; and everywhere faint traces of green showed in the sheltered nooks, where the warmth of the sun was held as one might hold water in the hollow of the hand. The air, the trees, the leafless shrubbery, alike were filled with birds. Over the meadows gathered the redwings fluting merrily; the grakles in the tall trees spluttered and croaked, as though they were hoarse from overmuch rejoicing; the wild-fowl, returning from the south, curved in and out among the scattered trees that bordered the creek's crooked channel, and whistled and chattered where they gathered in the shallow pools that dotted the marshes. Everywhere in the broad landscape there was abundant evidence of life, and above all other sounds rose the deep rattle of myriad frogs. Robert, loving more and more the wide landscape that had been so long familiar to him that it had entered into his daily life, touched John upon the arm and said, "Is this not beautiful?