rapidly melting snow which still lay on the hills and under the
cedars and tamaracks in the swamps. Patches of green grass, appearing on
the sunny side of the road where the snow had melted, led to predictions
of spring from the loafers beginning to sun themselves on the
salt-barrels and shoe-boxes outside the stores.

A group sitting about the blacksmith shop were discussing it.

"It's an early seedin'--now mark my words," said Troutt, as he threw his
knife into the soft ground at his feet. "The sun is crossing the line
earlier this spring than it did last."

"Yes; an' I heard a crow to-day makin' that kind of a--a spring noise
that sort o'--I d' know what--kind o' goes all through a feller."

"And there's Uncle Sweeney, an' that settles it; spring's comin' sure!"
said Troutt, pointing at an old man, much bent, hobbling down the
street. "When _he_ gits out the frogs ain't fur behind."

"We'll be gittin' on to the ground by next Monday," said Sam Dingley to
a crowd who were seated on the newly painted harrows and seeders which
Svend & Johnson had got out ready for the spring trade. "Svend &
Johnson's Agricultural Implement Depot" was on the north side of the
street, and on a spring day the yard was one of the pleasantest
loafing-places that could be imagined, especially if one wished company.

Albert wished to be alone. Something in the touch and tone of this
spring afternoon made him restless and inclined to strange thoughts. He
took his way out along the road which followed the river-bank, and in
the outskirts of the village threw himself down on a bank of grass which
the snows had protected, and which had already a tinge of green because
of its wealth of sun.

The willows had thrown out their tiny light-green flags, though their
roots were under the ice, and some of the hardwood twigs were tinged
with red. There was a faint but magical odor of uncovered earth in the
air, and the touch of the wind was like a caress from a moist, magnetic
hand.

The boy absorbed the light and heat of the sun as some wild thing might.
With his hat over his face, his hands folded on his breast, he lay as
still as a statue. He did not listen at first, he only felt; but at
length he rose on his elbow and listened. The ice cracked and fell along
the bank with a long, hollow, booming crash; a crow cawed, and a jay
answered it from the willows below. A flight of sparrows passed,
twittering innumerably. The boy shuddered with a strange