Land of the Lingering Snow; Chronicles of a Stroller in New England from January to June (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895 edition. Excerpt: ... IN THE WREN ORCHARD. One of the fairest spots known to me in the neighborhood of Cambridge is the "Wren Orchard." Thither on the morning of this Sunday, May 24, I took my little covey of buttercup hunters. The orchard was set put several generations ago, and not only the unknown hand which planted it but the house that sheltered him and his have passed away forever. The ground where the orchard stands is a hillside facing the south. Summer and winter the sun watches over it and only gentle winds sweep across it. North and east of this sunny Eden are elms which shut it out from inquisitive distance. Westward it is guarded by dark cedars, and along its southern edge rise rank upon rank of great oaks and chestnuts, in whose midst is a small swamp overhung by ancient willows. The swamp is made by a gentle brook which begins life in the elm grove north of the orchard, spends all its days murmuring over a pebbly bed among forget-me-nots and violets, and which crosses the orchard at its middle. The orchard and its borders contain high land, low land, dry land, wet land, open land, wooded land, hard wood, soft wood, evergreen wood and apple wood -- all the elements of home and shelter which a majority of land birds desire. No wonder then that summer and winter the wren orchard is alive with birds. As I write these words merry calls and music come from all its quarters in pleasing medley. Many of the birds have nests near by, others are building or planning where to place their nests. The latest migrants are now here. In the low land south of the orchard I hear a blackbilled cuckoo, saying "Coo-coo-coo, coo-coo-coo, copcoo-coo-coo, coo-coo-coo-coo." In the largest of the elms east of the orchard an indigo bird is singing his clear and joyous...