noon
But its greatest moment of domination is spring . The bitter gray wind of the east has held unchecked rule for days , giving place to its brother the north wind only at intervals , till some day in March the wind of the southwest begins to blow . Then the eaves begin to drip . Here and there a fowl -LRB- in a house that is really a prison -RRB- begins to sing the song it sang on the farm , and toward noon its song becomes a chant of articulate joy . Then the poor crawl out of their reeking hovels on the south and west sides to stand in the sun -- the blessed sun -- and felicitate themselves on being alive . Windows of sick-rooms are opened , the merry small boy goes to school without his tippet , and men lay off their long ulsters for their beaver coats . Caps give place to hats , and men and women pause to chat when they meet each other on the street .