§ 1. — Aspect of the Mo^■TH, 



IC04. ]\Iat, the Milk-month of our Saxon ancestoi-s, is 



said to have derived its name from the pastoral custom 



of English maidens — the Mays of our older authors — of 



rioing early on ]\Iay morning, and proceeding to the 



meado^vs to milk the cows, and elect the most beautiful 



of their companions as the "Queen of the Mays." In 



process of time, when the name was established, and 



the custom in which it originated had become a tradition, 



another May-day custom had crept in, "when," according to old 



Ilerrick, 



" K'ot a budding boy or girl that day. 

 But is got up and gone to bring in May; 



May, however, so poetical in the origin of its name, is one of doubt as to its 

 tinae season : is it the first month of sumrner or the last month of spring ? It 

 probably rests between the two seasons. It is certainly the mouth when the 

 renovated earth appears again " in its peculiar honours clad." Its mean tem- 

 perature, on an average of years, is higher ; but it still ranges from 33° to 

 70°, and severe frosty nights are by no means uncommon. It is, how- 

 ever, very nearly the driest month of tho year, although warm sunnj' 

 showers are also frequent, and under their balmy influence the garden nov.' 

 displays itself, decked in its gayest attire. The tall and shapely Asphodel, or 



