76 MARCH. 



many joys of the time, is not an atom impaired. 

 Are we not young 1 Are we not boys 1 Do we 

 not break, by the power of awakened thoughts, into 

 all the rapturous scenes of our happier years? 

 There is something in the freshness of the soil in 

 the mossy bank the balmy air the voices of birds 

 the early and delicious flowers, that we have seen 

 and felt only in childhood and spring. 



There are frequently mornings in March, when a 

 lover of nature may enjoy, in a stroll, sensations 

 not to be exceeded, or perhaps equalled, by any 

 thing which the full glory of summer can awaken : 

 mornings which tempt us to cast the memory of 

 winter, or the fear of its return, out of our thoughts. 

 The air is mild and balmy, with, now and then, a 

 cool gush by no means unpleasant, but on the con- 

 trary, contributing towards that cheering and pecu- 

 liar feeling which we experience only in spring. 

 The sky is clear ; the sun flings abroad not only a 

 gladdening splendour, but an almost summer glow. 

 The world seems suddenly aroused to hope and 

 enjoyment. The fields are assuming a vernal green- 

 ness the buds are swelling in the hedges the 

 banks are displaying, amidst the brown remains of 

 last year's vegetation, the luxuriant weeds of this. 

 There are arums, ground-ivy, chervil, the glaucous 

 leaves and burnished flowers of the pilew r ort, 



The first gilt thing 

 That wears the trembling pearls of spring ; 



and many other fresh and early bursts of greenery. 



