Springtime and Other Essays

Excerpt from Springtime and Other EssaysGovernesses used to tell us that the seasons of the year each consist of three months, and of these March, April, and May make the springtime. I should like to break the symmetry, and give February to spring, which would then include February, March, April, and May. It has been said that winter is but autumn "shyly shaking hands with spring." We will, accordingly, make winter a short link of two months - an autumnal and a vernal hand - December and January. It is a little sad for autumn to have to make room for chill November alongside of the happier months of September and October. But autumn is a season of decadence and cannot justly complain.The autumnal flowers, which may be allowed to figure as a prelude to spring, are few in number. My favourite is lady's tresses (Spiranthes), so called from the spiral twist in its inflorescence, which suggests braided hair.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.