Page:Early Spring in Massachusetts (1881).djvu/252

238 and disabled by his shoeing. He is sure to wet his feet, tear his coat, and jam his hat, and the superior qualities of my boots, coat, and hat appear. I once went into the woods with a party for a fortnight. I wore my old and common clothes, which were of Vermont gray. They wore, no doubt, the best they had for such an occasion, of a fashionable color and quality. I thought that they were a little ashamed of me while we were in the towns. They all tore their clothes badly but myself, and I, who, it chanced, was the only one provided with needles and thread, enabled them to mend them. When we came out of the woods I was the best dressed of the party. One of the most interesting sights this is the color of the yellow sand in the sun at the bottom of Nut-meadow and Second Division brooks. The yellow sands of a lonely brook, seen through the rippling water, with the shadows of the ripples like films passing over it.

Tried by various tests this season fluctuates. Thus the skunk-cabbage may flower March 2, as in 1860, or not till April 6 or 8, as in 1854 and 1855, a variation of about thirty-six days.

The bluebird may be seen February 24, as in 1850, 1857, and 1860, or not till March 24, as in 1856, a variation of about twenty-eight days.