308 WILD FLOWEBS OF JULY. 



than lie thought for, he felt the expedience of acting 

 upon the principle of "paws off";" somewhat quickly 

 withdrew his hands covered with blisters, amidst the 

 laughter of the bystanders, and truly feeling rather 

 nettled, hastily retired from his first lesson in bota- 

 nical exploration ! 



In Ireland, according to Mr. and Mrs. S. C. HALL,* 

 the last day of April, in each year, is called Nettlemas- 

 night ; on this evening boys parade the streets of 

 Cork with large bunches of Nettles, stinging their 

 playmates, and occasionally bestowing a sly touch 

 upon strangers who come in their way. Young and 

 merry maidens, too, not unfrequently avail themselves 

 of this privilege to " sting" their lovers and the 

 laughter in the streets is re-echoed even in the 

 drawing-room ! 



But now, after this weedy, not to say blistering 

 discussion, in the burning sun, too, we may surely be 

 allowed a quiet turn in the garden ; but it must be in 

 the cool of the balmy evening, when the air is redolent 

 with the fragrance of the Sweet Pea, the Honeysuckle, 

 and the Jessamine ; when the last streak of ruby 

 alone tinges the western sky when all the sounds of 

 garish day are hushed to repose when even the flut- 

 tering swift has ceased its vesper scream, while the 

 satin-winged moths are careering about the Eed Vale- 

 rians and Sweet Williams in ceaseless gyrations, and 

 the tall Evening- Primrose, with its yellow campanu- 

 late wide expanded flowers, seems to offer a pale light 

 to the noiseless footsteps of meditation. 



* Ireland, by Mr. and Mrs. S. C. HALL, vol. i. p. 25. 



