82 THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN 



There are many old rhymes and proverbs asso- 

 ciated with Martinmas: 



" On St. Martin's Day 

 Your fires lay." 



" Young and old must go clad at Martinmas." 



" If there is ice that will bear a duck before Martinmas there 

 will be none that will bear a goose all the winter." 



" If the wind is in the south-west at Martinmas, 

 It keeps there till after Candlemas " (February 2). 



This weather lore is naturally gleaned out of many 

 years, some of the sayings being of real antiquity, 

 others perhaps of more recent invention. 



In spite of them all, you will find that many 

 people have a different method of reading the sky, 

 some, for instance, contending that mares'-tails in 

 the sky come after great storms, while others tell 

 you that they are the portent of a gale. 



ST. MARTIN'S SUMMER 



" Though flowers have perished at the touch 

 Of frost, the early comer 

 I hail, the season loved so much, 

 The good St, Martin's Summer. 



" The Summer and the Winter here, 

 Midway a truce are holding; 

 A soft consenting atmosphere, 

 Their tents of peace enfolding. 



'• Less drear the winter night shall be, 

 If memory cheer and hearten 

 Its heavy hours with thoughts of thee, 

 Sweet summer of St. Martin." 



Whittier 



