NO^nEMBER AND DECEJIBER. 185 



early blossoms tliat liide among the leaves in 

 spring, and thus 



"The violets, Tvhose looks are like the sky," 



may be found in their flower markets, from 

 early spring till winter has long begun his 

 reign. 



Old prejudice and superstitions induced our 

 forefathers to undervalue this second frao-rance 

 of the \'iolet. WcUsford, in his " Scents of 

 Nature," records that, " when roses and violets 

 flourish in autumn, it is an evil sign of an in- 

 suing plague the year following, or of some 

 pestiferous disease ;" and so the blooming of a 

 flower, which might have told of God's love, 

 was enough to trouble a man's mind, and to 

 presage ills which should have no existence but 

 in his own imaginings. 



NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. 



The withered leaves bestrew the garden path. 



Made miry with the fall of fleeting showers ; 

 The sun emits a feeble ray, which hath 



No power to warm or cheer the gloomy hours, 



The robin only sings among the bowers, 

 Now bare and desolate, his simple lay : 

 All other birds are mute and sad, or they 



Have flitted with the spring and summer flowers ; 

 Yet are the borders not entirely bare, 



For many tinted asters still remain. 

 And bright chrysanthemums nod here and there 



Their heads, to chilling blast and pelting rain. 



H. G. Adams. 



A CHANGE has come rapidly over the garden 

 during the last few weeks, and few and faint are 

 the tints which variegate the winter landscape. 



