78 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



when she passed under it, they all joined in 

 chorus, singing these lines of their own com- 

 position : 



We'll welcome Miss Caroline with flowers'so gay, 

 To the school where she teaches us goodness and truth ; 



Oh ! may she be happy on ev'ry May-day, 

 And most graciously pardon the follies of youth. 



My uncle says it has been always the custom 

 to celebrate May-day in this county, and that 

 to have a pretty May-bush is still considered 

 quite important. 



In Huntingdonshire, Miss Maude told us that 

 the children hang every place with garlands, and 

 sometimes they make very pretty triumphal 

 arches. To a horizontal hoop, two semi-hoops 

 are fixed, so as to form a sort of crown, which is 

 ornamented with flowers, ribbons, necklaces, 

 spoons, and all kinds of finery. This is sus- 

 pended across the road by a flowery rope, ex- 

 tending from house to house, while the children 

 sing, dance, toss their balls over it, and ask 

 money from the passengers : Miss Maude re- 

 peated to us their usual song. 



The May-day Garland. 



" To the lilac, laburnum, and iris, which cheer, 

 The hawthorn, the cowslip, and king- cob so gay, 

 Each beauty which gladdens the spring of the year, 

 And the kerchiefs and ribbons our friends have supplied 

 In bows and in streamers are tastefully tied, 

 And form our sweet garland, our garland of May. 



