THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 



readily respond, and go forth amidst those scenes 

 which now bear the loveliest impress of the Redeemer's 

 hand. He would enter upon the first of May with 

 something of that ardour of spirit which led our rural 

 ancestors to welcome it with a variety of festive cere- 

 monies ; and though he would not imitate the custom of 

 our pagan ancestors in dancing round a may-pole in hon- 

 or of the imaginary goddess Maiafrom whom this month 

 derives its name, he would esteem it a delightful and 

 profitable employment to go forth and gather flowers 

 on the first May morning ; to greet the beams of the 

 rising luminary, while the heavy dews are yet glistening 

 in countless drops upon the rising herbage.* What can 

 be more interesting than thus to hail the arrival of a 



* One of our old Rural Poets thus expostulates with the 

 Sluggard on a May morning :— 



* Nay, not so much as out of bed, 

 When all the birds have mattins said. 

 And sung their thankful hymns ; 'tis sin, 

 Nay, profanation to keep in : 

 When as a thousand virgins on this day 

 Spring sooner than the lark, to fetch in May.' 



It should be observed that by the alteration of the style, the 

 first of May, so renowned in the poetical calendar, was thrown 

 back 12 days into April. This may in part account for the day 

 being^somewhat colder than it was at an earlier period. 



