By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 47 
And again :— 
“A January spring 
Is worth nothing.” ) 
. ‘¢ December’s frost and January’s flood 
Never boded the husbandman good.” 
For February, we have :— 
«Of all the months in the year, 
Curse a fair Februeer.” 
This is strong language; but even this is preferable to the un- 
dutiful saying attributed to the inhabitants of Wales, who repeat :— 
4 
\ «The Welshman would rather see his mother on the bier, 
Than see a fair Februeer.” 
| 
7 The month of March again, or the “ Marchen month,” as it it 
_ often called in Wiltshire, is acknowledged as a spring month ; and 
Wwe repeat the saying, which endorses its spring character :— 
y ‘‘ Saint Matthie * 
Sends sap into the tree.” 
4 
E And the French express in another form the same sentiment :— 
. “‘ Saint Matthias 
Casse les glaces.” 
But yet no month in the year is so little trusted, and looked upon 
with such suspicion and misgiving as this: indeed all the proverbs 
n,n 
‘¢ In January should sun sppear, 
March and April pay full dear.’ 
. 
“‘ Tf January Kalends be summerly gay 
*Twill be winterly weather to the Kalends of May.” 
“The blackest month in all the year, - 
Is the month of Janiveer.” 


And in France:— 
ia “Si les mouches dansent en Janvier 
‘ Le cultivateur devra s’inquieter de ses fourrages;”” 
_ That is — 
When you see midges in January, 
a Treasure up every bit of forage.” 
} “rote same effect in Germany :— 
*‘ Tanzen in Januar die Mucken 
Muss der Bauer nach dem Futter gueken.” 
: ® Now February ‘24th, but O.S. March 8th. 
