88 FROM A MIDDLESEX GARDEN 



of the phlox makes a pleasing contrast. Each may now 

 bestow an individual appreciation upon the garden's blos- 

 soms, and think longer upon their charms before May has 

 brought its floral wealth, or June has overburdened the world 

 with its magnitude of colour. One might enumerate a long 

 list of " braw Spring's " floral charms, not forgetting the 

 laurustinus, which seemed ready to open its corymbs of red 

 buds to herald Christmas, but have long delayed the unfolding 

 of them till now ; neither is there a lovelier sight than the 

 long lines of pear and plum trees, whose petal-snow is now 

 falling in the musical rain, and lies scattered on the ridges of 

 the brown furrows. 



" Braw Spring " in the woods and fields ! when first 



" Daisies, vermil-rimmed and white, 

 Hide in deep herbage, and ere yet the bees 

 Hum about globes of clover ! " 



Who can find words to express the beauties when the 

 celandine embroiders the grass, and anemones peep like a 

 glimmering pearl from among the dead bracken, and the pale 

 purple ladies' smocks are trembling on " the river's lip " and 

 in- moist meadows ? The first perfumes are flung upon the 

 air; the scent of the sweet-briar steals down the lane, the 

 dog's-mercury waving upon the floor of the shady wood sends 

 abroad its almond odour; unseen, many a thousand violets 

 empty their store of incense, wafted from dell, or some 

 sequestered spot where for companion opens many 



" A primrose by the river's brim." 



Spring supplies food to all the senses ; there are blue skies, 

 silvery rain, new green leaves and golden blossoms for our 

 sight ; clear melodies to delight the ear ; sweet perfume of 



