ALPHEGE TIDE. Ill 



APRIL 20, St. Agnes of Monte Pulciano, v. a. 

 A.D. 1317. 



St. Serf, bishop, 5th cent. 



St. James of Sclavonia, in 1485. 



06s. This holy virgin was a native of Monte Pulciano in 

 Tuscany. At nine years old she was placed by her parents in a 

 convent of the order of St. Francis ; in so tender an age she was a 

 model of all virtues to this austere community ; at fifteen she was 

 removed to a new foundation of the order of St. Dominic at Porceno, 

 and appointed abbess by Pope Nicholas IV. She practised great 

 austerities, which her directors obliged her to mitigate on account of 

 sickness. She died at Monte Pulciano, on the 20th of April, 1317, 

 being forty three years old. 



Spring Snowflake Leucojum vernum flowers. 



Summer Snowflake Leucojum aestivum flowers. 



Lesser Snowflake Leucojum intermedium flowers. 



All the Snowflakes flower about this time: indeed the Spring 

 Snowflake is often in blow sooner, but, not being a native of this 

 country, its time is uncertain, depending on season and soil. A 

 moist ground suits all these plants. 



Cuckoo Cuculus canorus arrives. 



The first sound of the Cuckoo's well known note has ever been a favourite 

 sternal harbinger. Tliere is scarce a child in tlie country who is unacquainted 

 with it, or who has not attempted to imitate it. We have also plaything 

 Cuckoos made to give its peculiar voice, and also Cuckoo clocks, which so 

 closely imitate the notes of this bird as deceive persons at a distance into the 

 belief that they really hear the bird. The eiiually well known and harsh scream 

 <o( the Wryneck is heard about the same time, and will be described tomorrow. 



Soft notes of the Cuckoo, that sweetlie doth fling 



O'er the flowery vale the glad tidings of Spring, 



And then in you newblossonied orchard unseen. 



While the Swallow sweeps liastilie over the green. 



Cries Cuckoo! then nearer, and nearer a^aiu, 



Successively scatters his notes on the plain. 



Till perch'don some tree in the garden hard bye, 



Seems close to the ear with her mellowing cry. 



Then again and ai;ain, as more distant he flies 



From one bush to another, more faintly he cries, 



Till we listeu anon at the end of the vale, 



To catch his scarce audible song in the gale. 



So onr good Angel guardian's voice is first heard 



In the springtime of life, like some far distant bird; 



As youthtide advances and dangers encroach. 



She waves her soft wings to a nearer approach. 



And more louilly exhorts us the perils to fly 



Of Sin and of Death, that are hovering nigh; 



While demons like Swallows by night and by day 



Are voraciously hunting their fugitive prey. 



Bnt, alas ! like the song of the Cuckoo, we learu 



The shrewd warning voice of the Angel to spurn; 



And she takes to her pinions and slowlie recedes. 



And distances hourlie the flowerie meads; 



And the mind, by the Summer of Passions worn down, 



Sinlis in Autumn's decay with disconsolate frown, 



Till by Winterie billows beshattered and tost. 



The streams of devotioa are bound up in frost. 



ylnl/iol. iv. 20. 



