SPRING AT THE NORTH AND AT THE SOUTH. 



liouses, and the grass by tlie door step, in the same sheltered aspect, springs up fresh 

 and green. Hens cackle more loudly, and chanticleer and the turkey cock brush up 

 their plumes, and display them more proudly in the sun. If the fair weather con- 

 tinues several days in succession, the snow will disappear in patches from the fields, 

 and cattle and sheep will roam about in the pastures to smell the fresh ground, and to 

 search for the first blade of grass. At such times, many persons, touched with the 

 spring feeling, go about repeating Bryant's song to March — 



"For thou to northern lands again 



The glad and glorious sun doth bring, 

 And thou hast joined the gentle train, 

 And wear'st the gentle name of Spring. 



And in thy reign of blast and storm, 



Smiles many a long, bright, sunny day, 

 When the changed winds are soft and warm, 



And heaven puts on the blue of May." 



But often, before the song is finished, clouds darken the sun, wind, hail and snow 

 beat upon the earth with redoubled fury. In the latter part of this month, however, 

 milder days return. The snow gradually gives way before sun, wind and rain, and 

 melts into the earth, or runs off into the swollen streams. 



On some bright morning, the notes of " the first robin" are heard. His arrival 

 produces a general gladness in every household. It is the return of an old friend, re- 

 minding us of pleasant days in the past, and bidding us hope for happy days to come. 

 The Phoebe bird and blue bird follow in the train of the robin.* Their arrival is the 

 signal with many gardeners for preparing hot-beds to forward early vegetables. About 

 these days, wild pigeons are often seen, wheeling in large flocks through the air, some- 

 times taking a high flight, and at others passing so low as to come within reach of 

 the sportsman's gun. Cold winds, bail-storms and flurries of snow are quite frequent 

 still. And yet, in the midst of this unfavorable weather, some of the earliest garden 

 flowers are peeping above ground. There is the Daphne mesereon, in flower often 

 while surrounded by snow ; the crocus, said in poetry to be 



" the first gilt thing 

 That wears the trembling breath of spring ;" 



and the daffodil, to be followed ere long by the hyacinth, snow-drop, tulip and other 

 plants, which come up successively, and make a cheerful spot in the otherwise deso- 

 late garden. 



* A traveller in South America, speaking of the birds of his native land, says it is pleasant to notice that, into what- 

 ever strange countries they may have wandered during winter, and whatever strange tongues they may liave heard, 

 they nevertheless come back upcaking EnglLsh. Hark! " Phrebo ! Phwbo !" plain enough. And by and by the 

 Bob o' link, saying " Bob o' Lincoln," and the quail saying " Bob White." We have heard of one who always (bought 

 the robin said, ''skillet! skillet! three legs to a skillet! two legs to a skillet !" A certain facetious doctor says the 

 robins cry out to him a« ho passes along the road, " kill 'em ! cure 'em I cure 'em ! physic! physic! physifc !" And 

 the frogs indulge in humorous, sarcastic ditties, in which one hears, "jug o' rum ! jug o' rum ! jug o 'rum !" While 

 another responds, »' Paddy got dhroonk, got dhroonk, 'oonk, 'nk !" {See CuiUeator, Nov. 1847.) 



