THE EARLY MORNING. 235 



guest with all. It retires early to rest. The black- 

 bird quits its leafy roost in the ivied ash ; its 

 " chink, chink," is heard in the hedge ; and, mount- 

 ing on some neighbouring oak, with mellow, sober 

 voice it gratulates the coming day. " The plain- 

 song cuckoo grey" from some tall tree now tells its 

 tale. The lark is in the air, the marten " twitters 

 from her straw-built shed," all the choristers are 

 tuning in the grove ; and amid such tokens of 

 awakening pleasure it becomes difficult to note 

 priority of voice. These are the matin voices of 

 the summer season ; in winter a cheerless chirp, or 

 a hungry twit, is all we hear ; the families of voice 

 are away, or silent ; we have little to note, and 

 perhaps as little inclination to observe. 



During no portion of the day can the general 

 operations of nature be more satisfactorily observed 

 than in the early morning. Rosy June the very 

 thought of an early summer's morning in the 

 country, like enchantment, gives action to the cur- 

 rent of our blood, and seems to breathe through 

 our veins a stream of health and enjoyment ! All 

 things appear fresh and unsoiled ; the little birds, 

 animated and gratulous, are frisking about the 

 sprays ; others, proceeding to their morning's meal, 

 or occupied in the callings of their nature, give 

 utterance by every variety of voice to the pleasures 

 that they feel : the world has not yet called us ; 

 and with faculties unworn, we unite with them, 

 partake of this general hilarity and joy, feel dis- 

 posed to be happy, and enjoy the blessings around 



