februaht. 21 



which humanity shudders, and which, though 

 professedly in honour of God, were as far 

 removed as possible, from the great truth which 

 Christianity teaches, that " God is love." 



We cannot now trace exactly the origin of 

 placing the mistletoe- bough in houses and 

 churches. Some authors have thought that an 

 idea prevailed among the ancient Britons, that 

 the sylvan spirits took shelter in it, when the 

 trees of the wood were leafless. Others trace 

 the custom to the fact, that the feast of Saturn 

 was held in December, when the priests com- 

 pelled the people to celebrate it by bringing 

 in branches from the woods. The earlier 

 Christians are supposed to have adopted these as 

 signs of joy and gladness ; and as Christmas- 

 day ^vas their festival, they, on this day, decked 

 their houses and churches. 



FEBRUARY. 



"There is at times a solemn gloom, 

 Ere yet the lovely spring assume 

 Sole empire, with the lingering cold 

 Content divided sway to hold; 

 A sort of interreign, which throws 

 On all around its dull repose ; ' 



Dull, not unpleasing ; when the rest 

 Nor snow, nor rain, nor winds molest ; 

 Nor aught by listening ear is heard 

 Save lirstfruit notes of vernal bird, 

 Alone, or with responsive call, 

 Or sound of twinkling waterfall; 

 Yet is no radiant brightness seen 

 To pierce the cloud's opposing screen, 

 Or hazy vapour to illume, 

 The thickness of that solemn gloom." — Mant. 



The chilly month of February, though it 



