Whenthegroundwaspartiallybareofsnow，andafewwarmdayshaddrieditssurfacesomewhat，itwaspleasanttocomparethefirsttendersignsoftheinfantyearjustpeepingforthwiththestatelybeautyofthewitheredvegetationwhichhadwithstoodthewinter——life-everlasting，goldenrods，pinweeds，andgracefulwildgrasses，moreobviousandinterestingfrequentlythaninsummereven，asiftheirbeautywasnotripetillthen；evencotton-grass，cat-tails，mulleins，johnswort，hard-hack，meadow-sweet，andotherstrong-stemmedplants，thoseunexhaustedgranarieswhichentertaintheearliestbirds——decentweeds，atleast，whichwidowedNaturewears。Iamparticularlyattractedbythearchingandsheaf-liketopofthewool-grass；itbringsbackthesummertoourwintermemories，andisamongtheformswhichartlovestocopy，andwhich，inthevegetablekingdom，havethesamerelationtotypesalreadyinthemindofmanthatastronomyhas。Itisanantiquestyle，olderthanGreekorEgyptian。ManyofthephenomenaofWinteraresuggestiveofaninexpressibletendernessandfragiledelicacy。Weareaccustomedtohearthiskingdescribedasarudeandboisteroustyrant；butwiththegentlenessofaloverheadornsthetressesofSummer。
Attheapproachofspringtheredsquirrelsgotundermyhouse，twoatatime，directlyundermyfeetasIsatreadingorwriting，andkeptupthequeerestchucklingandchirrupingandvocalpirouettingandgurglingsoundsthateverwereheard；andwhenI
stampedtheyonlychirrupedthelouder，asifpastallfearandrespectintheirmadpranks，defyinghumanitytostopthem。No，youdon’t——chickaree——chickaree。Theywerewhollydeaftomyarguments，orfailedtoperceivetheirforce，andfellintoastrainofinvectivethatwasirresistible。
Thefirstsparrowofspring！Theyearbeginningwithyoungerhopethanever！Thefaintsilverywarblingsheardoverthepartiallybareandmoistfieldsfromthebluebird，thesongsparrow，andthered-wing，asifthelastflakesofwintertinkledastheyfell！Whatatsuchatimearehistories，chronologies，traditions，andallwrittenrevelations？Thebrookssingcarolsandgleestothespring。Themarshhawk，sailinglowoverthemeadow，isalreadyseekingthefirstslimylifethatawakes。Thesinkingsoundofmeltingsnowisheardinalldells，andtheicedissolvesapaceintheponds。Thegrassflamesuponthehillsideslikeaspringfire——“etprimitusoriturherbaimbribusprimoribusevocata“——asiftheearthsentforthaninwardheattogreetthereturningsun；notyellowbutgreenisthecolorofitsflame；——thesymbolofperpetualyouth，thegrass-blade，likealonggreenribbon，streamsfromthesodintothesummer，checkedindeedbythefrost，butanonpushingonagain，liftingitsspearoflastyear’shaywiththefreshlifebelow。Itgrowsassteadilyastherilloozesoutoftheground。Itisalmostidenticalwiththat，forinthegrowingdaysofJune，whentherillsaredry，thegrass-bladesaretheirchannels，andfromyeartoyeartheherdsdrinkatthisperennialgreenstream，andthemowerdrawsfromitbetimestheirwintersupply。Soourhumanlifebutdiesdowntoitsroot，andstillputsforthitsgreenbladetoeternity。
Waldenismeltingapace。Thereisacanaltworodswidealongthenortherlyandwesterlysides，andwiderstillattheeastend。