** The man who has planted a garden feels that he has done 

 something for the good of the world." 



CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER. 



JANUARY 



The short days fly to meet the longer days 



Now the old year has said its last good-bye ; 

 Though Winter will abide, though darkness stays, 



The short days fly. 



Beguile the heart to dreams of Springtime nigh, 

 Thrush, syren of the winter ! sweet thy lays 

 I hear as soon as night has left the sky ; 



Singer of sequent songs, there 'mid the bays 

 And bud-decked laurustinus, tune and try 

 Thy Spring-prelude, 'tis to Spring-perfect ways 



The short days fly. 



' I V O-DAY the air is clear and the sun shines brightly, 

 A making even the bare trees picturesque. The new 

 year has called to the flowers. The brave snowdrops have 

 pushed up their tiny spears of green through the ground 

 they have conquered winter : and notice, be the earth never so 

 hard with frost or long covered with snow, they are ever the 

 victors and win the way for their tender flowerets. The 

 mezereon (Daphne) is tipped with buds, and waits impatiently 

 for the early days of true Spring to show their beautiful blush- 

 ing coral flowers. This is our garden's most treasured January 

 flower. Noticeable is the hawthorn hedge sprinkled with 

 tiny rubies, which, weeks later yet, will be transformed into 

 emeralds. Earth seems to be glad that the days are lengthen- 

 ing, although scarcely perceivable at present ; yet its joy is 

 expressed in many a dainty picture seen around. 



