HAWTHORN. 187 



pleasure in a country life, and rural associations, perhaps 

 this image will appear scarcely less poetical, or less pleasing, 

 than the former interpretation, which many readers give to 

 this passage at first sight. 



This tree not only delights our senses with its beauty 

 and perfume, and affords a cooling shade in sunny fields, 

 a benevolence for which it has been celebrated by many 

 of our best poets, but it also harbours the little birds 

 which cheer us with their joyous music. The thrush, 

 and many others, feed in winter on its berries, the bright 

 scarlet haws. A decoction of the bark yields a yellow 

 dye: the wood is used for axle-trees and tool-handles. 

 " The root of an old Thorn," says Evelyn, " is excellent 

 for boxes and combs. When planted single, it rises with 

 a stem big enough for the use of the turner ; and the wood 

 is scarcely inferior to box." 



The Glastonbury variety, commonly called the Glaston- 

 bury Thorn, usually flowers in January or February ; but 

 it is sometimes in blossom on Christmas-day. In many 

 countries the peasants eat the berries of the Hawthorn; 

 and the Kamschatkadales make a wine from them. 



The Hawthorn will grow many years in a pot or tub, 

 and require no other care than watering it occasionally in 

 dry weather, and removing it into a larger pot as it out- 

 grows the old one. 



The scent of the May-blossom is proverbially sweet. 

 How much is said in praise both of its beauty and sweet- 

 ness in the following couplet ! 



f e A bush of May-flowers with the bees about them ; 

 Ah, sure no tasteful nook would be without them." 



KEATS. 



Chaucer frequently speaks of the Hawthorn : 



" There sawe I growing eke the freshe hauthorne 

 In white motley, that so sote doeth ysmell." 



COMPLAINT or THE BLACK KNIGHT. 



