Page:Early Spring in Massachusetts (1881).djvu/234

220 tawny earth contrasts with the darker water which surrounds it, or perchance lighter sometimes. At this season when the russet colors prevail, the contrast of water and land is more agreeable to behold. "What an inexpressibly soft curving line is the shore! and if the water is perfectly smooth and yet rising, you seem to see it raised one eighth of an inch with swelling lip above the immediate shore it kisses, as in a cup. Indian isles and promontories. Thus we sit on that rock, hear the first wood-frog's croak, and dream of a russet elysium. Enough for the season is the beauty thereof.

The qualities of the land that are most attractive to our eyes now are dryness and firmness. It is not the rich, black soil, but warm and sandy hills and plains which tempt our steps. We love to sit on and walk over sandy tracts in the spring, like cicindelas. These tongues of russet land capeing and sloping into the flood do almost speak to one. They are alternately in sun and shade. When the cloud is passed and they reflect their pale brown light to me, I am tempted to go to them In the shadow of a cloud, and it chances to be a hollow ring with sunlight in its midst, passing over the hilly sproutland toward the Baker house, a sproutland of oaks and birches, owing to the color of the birch twigs, perhaps, the russet