It is one of the proverbial rites of Spring here on the farm. A bland and quiescent Mallard quack is audible from the pond’s edge, one of nature’s first pronouncements that Spring is in the air.

It is an amusing contest. What creature will be the first to venture out on the limb ? After all, it is no secret that temperatures might well defy. Winter knows better than to relinquish its grip.

On this morning, however, The DUCKS have it, as a parliamentarian would say.

I do suspect, though, that any morning a gobble willreverberate out of the woods. There will be no secret then, the turkeys outdone by the ducks. What did Emerson say ? There is always some great leveling circumstance .