EDITOR'S TAI-.LE. 



through earth, and sen, and sky; and dwells now, if it does not at all times, in the face and Iieart 

 of mail. From my clminbcr window I look out upon the warm blue sky and the dim mM mount- 

 ains that skirt the horizon, and bless Gon, M'ho made "the country." 



It is well that there yet remain some portions of our country which are not swallowed u\> by 

 the all-absorbing "town." I am thankful for the privilege of viewing God's works, unimproved 

 by the hand of man. Those patches of woods, that stand out here and there upon the landscape, 

 — those groves, so beautiful because so natural, — I prize as the miser prizes his gold. Rusticus 

 would cut them down, and sow wheat where they stand: but my "no" is emphatic; and my 

 groves will still cool the air, and afford me shelter from the scorching sun of summer. 



My bees, awakened by the genial warmth, are flitting around the hives; but many of them 

 who come forth I fear may never return. IIow gliully must they hail the ap{)roach of more 

 pleasant weather! — how delighted to know that the reign of the Ice-king is broken, and that the 

 Queen of the flowers will soon scatter her blessings over all the broad fields of our quiet domain. 



Tjwser, my highly-prized Newfoundland, enjoys the sun amazingly. lie lies stretched out at 

 full length on the sunny side, half-asleep and half-awake, a perfect picture of content; and tlie 

 cackle of my Cochin Chinas in the yard, and the songs of the robins in the trees, alone break the 

 stillness which hangs around my "box in the woods." Z. 



April 18, 1S54. 



A ROBIN is busily engaged in building her nest on the cap of my window, and she sings merrily 

 as her work progresses. Doubtless she is as happy as we mortals are while building our houses, 

 in which we hope to pass in quietness the declining days of life. With what care she selects the 

 sticks of Avhich the outside of her nest is composed ; and how much taste she displays in bringing 

 together the feathers, hairs, and soft pieces of bark, which form the inner lining of the nest. I 

 wake, long before the dawn, to listen to her joyous song ; and regret that man may not be as 

 happy as are, apparently, many of God's creatures, who are less gifted. 



The red buds of the Pajony are pressing up among the dead stalks of a p<ist year's growth. 

 Strange, that the few brief glimpses of the warm sun should so soon have called them forth. I 

 see they are increasing in size day by day ; and, as I cut down the old stalks, I am astoni^-htd at 

 the great number of shoots which are springing up. 



Birds love music. As I sat under a tree in front of the house, this morning, I took mj' flute 

 and commenced playing a lively air. I noticed a couj)le of robins on a tree a few rods distant, 

 who, as I continued playing, flew to the ground, and hopped along, stopping occasionally to 

 listen, till they got within a few feet of me ; and there they stood, turning one side of their heads 

 toward me, and then the other, till I put up my instrument, when they flew away. 



Spring is tiie most poetical of all seasons. What can be more beautiful tlum the following 

 lines, by tfie poet of Nature, Thompson ? 



" Moist, bright, and green, the landscape laughs around. 

 Full swell the woods ; their every music wakes, 

 Mix'd in wild concert with the babbling brooks 

 Increased, the distant bleatings of the hills. 

 And hollow lows responsive from the vales, 

 TVhence blending aU the swecten'd zephyr springs. 

 Meantime, refracted from yon eastern cloud, 

 Bestriding earth, the grand ethcrial bow 



Shoots up immense. * ♦ * * 

 Then spring the living herbs, profusely wild, 

 OV-r all the deep green earth, beyond the power 

 Of botanist to number up their tribes ; 

 "Whether he steals along the lonely dale, 

 In silent search ; or through the forest, rank 

 With what the dull incurious weeds account, 

 Bursts his blind way." 



z. 



!«t(ttt«n (CtarlJtit. 



Variety and Properties of Manures. — The manures in general use in gardens are numerous 

 shall only notice those which I consider the most useful ; and of these, the dung of horses 

 the best, is certainly the most general in use. 



