70 UAJJBLING REFLECTIONS AMIDST SNOW AND FROST. 



window of his; ami there, under its sill, breathed his last note.* I remon- 

 strated with the blood-stained wretch, for committing such wanton acts of 

 ciiielty; and I asked him what the innocent little creatures (half-starved 

 as they were) had done to annoy him ? His reply was Avorthy of the whole 

 heartless tribe of which he is a member, — " the birds have no business here ; 

 they deserve to be shot .'" Unfortunately, the law affords no protection to these 

 little creatures, fer^ natura. Would that I were a legislator for a single day ! 



Alas, for the carnage carried on in the fields upon these unoffending tribes ! 

 I have seen enough in my recent rambles to make me (almost) hate the race 

 to Avhich I belong. The savage enjoyment — a kind of ecstatic rapture — shown 

 by these fiends whenever they have wounded a bird, it is hideous to behold. 

 Legion are they in number, and Demon ought each of them to be named. 

 One feUow, most respectably habited, coolly told me that he and his nephew 

 had (the day previous, — Sunday !) " bagged " twentj^-three blackbirds before 

 dinner, besides wounding at least a dozen others ! Am I wrong in what I so 

 often assert publicly, — that man is a semi-savage ? I think not. 



I have left myself small space to speak of the now daily opening flowers. 

 With your permission, I will at a future time say a word or two about what I 

 so dearly love. Just at this time of writing, the primrose, crocus, snowdrop, 

 — that " Icicle changed into a flower," — and other little graceful strangers, 

 are bashfully struggling into life. The snow has preserved everything from 

 harm. Its fertilizing, fructifying influences are already visible. The young 

 com looks luxuriant ; the grass is green ; the trees are lively ; vegetation 

 safely progresses. I can plainly see that, ere long, we shall have a lovely 

 series of dailj^-expanding beauties in the vegetable world. Before these 

 remarks see the light, strong winds will be at work to evaporate the excess 

 of moisture from the earth, caused by the thaw and heavy rains. Our 

 mother Nature, too, will have awakened once for all. She Avill be busily 

 arranging her plans, and working her miracles of beauty. Already, I have 

 noticed hundreds of her dreaming thoughts and wishes in course of fulfil- 

 ment. But what lies before us ? There is ecstasy in the thought. 



We have yet many more bleak winds to blow over us ; but these will 

 gradually subside. The signal will then go forth for us to wander abroad, 

 and see what is doing in the fields. Nature's invitation must be at once 

 accepted by all who love the Countiy. Her companions are even now^ await- 

 ing her. Hark ! 



Up springs the lark, 

 Joyous mid loud, the messenger of morn ! 



* During the past month, 1 have received many heart-rending accounts of similar acfs of ci-uelty, com- 

 mitted in all parts of the country. Garden-pets, out of number, have fallen victims to the gim of the idle 

 vagrant. In oue case, a Blackbird, Thrush, and Starling, (choice favourites all,) were sorely wounded, like 

 my own innocent Robin, they sought the window of their best friend, shewed theif shattered limbs, and 

 then died ! 



