J88 CraMbles and bay leaves. 



frost or snow, but sunshine and soft air, and we would go away into 

 the green woods with our merry companions, to gather buttercups 

 and daisies, and blue-bells and heather-blooms. 



" What wak'st thou in the heart, O Spring? — 



The human heart, with all its dreams and sighs — 



Thou that giy'st back so many a buried thing, 

 Restorer of forgotten harmonies ; 



Fresh songs and scents break forth where'er thou art — 



What wak'st thou in the heart? 



" Looks of familiar love, that never more, 



Never on earth, our aching eyes shall meet, 

 Past words of welcome to our household door, 



And vanish'd smiles, and sounds of parted feet — 

 Spring ! midst the murmurs of thy flowering trees, 

 Why, why reviv'st thou these?" 



There is no month of the year so dreary as February, but even 

 then we find the grass green upon the meadows, and the hedges put- 

 ting foith innumerable slender stems and delicate green leaves. In 

 the meadows we find the pretty vernal crocus, invested with a loveli- 

 ness of its own, and one of the most welcome plants of spring. In 

 the places where it abounds, the meadows are radiant spots, the full- 

 blown cups stand open to invite the first butterfly — and it offers some 

 store to the diligent bees when flowers are scarce. In the hedges 

 too we find the dandelion, the "the sunflower of spring," displaying 

 its golden stars, and giving a cheerful aspect to the quiet country 

 lanes. Then come the daffodil, the mezereon, the celandine, the 

 violets, primroses and cowslips, and a long train of flowers : and as 

 the season advances, legions of buttercups come into bloom, dressing 

 all the fields in a gaudy yellow livery, and spreading a carpet of bur- 

 nished gold for the fairy footsteps of the laughing summer. 



In the woods we find nature busy at work preparing delicate trellis 

 work, rich tapestry, and bowers of enchantment. The wood anemone 

 begins to display its snowy buds and delicate leaves, and it will soon 

 cover every spot of ground ; contrasting beautifully with the deep 

 blue of the wild hyacinth, and the pale yellow of the primrose, while 

 trembling in youth and beauty under every bush and tree. 



Nature makes such rapid progress that we are sometimes startled 

 by the wonderful effect which a warm shower, or a day or two of sun- 

 shine will produce. A dim sprinkling of green comes over the goose- 



