Fragrance Quote for December 16th, 2012-Kansas in Winter- By William Kennedy Marshall

Prairie Grass

Winter. These are the months "when the dull clouds shake their mantles and fleck the world with snow," albeit in Kansas there are but few murky clouds, while the visits of the beautiful snow are like angel calls. There are not many winter days when cattle do not browse on the dry, sweet prairie grass. The farmer's plow is often busy. Out-door work in country and city are rarely interrupted. In early March, sometimes in February, the songs are heard of the advance guard of returning winter tourists, who are glad to exchange the fragrance of the magnolia for the wild rose and the goldenrod. The meadow lark begins to reconnoiter, the robin to flirt with his sweetheart, the woodpecker peeps out of his door and flutters around his front yard, the black crow announces his readiness to prey upon the newly-planted corn, the brilliant crocus and the delicate cowslip lift their tiny heads from the yet cold earth, singing: "We are here on time; the others are coming." Spring bows winter into retirement, and dons her robes of green.