XVI. 



H EHsplas of 



WE are upon the verge of the " merry month," and 

 the April weather has stimulated to the full all the 

 promises of May. Everything living is awaking to the 

 full after the winter somnolence, and even the ladies' 

 Easter bonnets and costumes indicate that human 

 nature somehow or other sympathises with the general 

 delight in the prospect of a near summer-time, and a 

 return to the genial warmth of the middle of the year. 



There is not a bud or blossom which is not break- 

 ing forth into its silent song of gladness, none the less 

 real because it is evinced to the eye rather than to 

 the ear. " The birds on every spray " sing gaily of 

 the rosy time of year, and thoughts of holidays and 

 lazy days begin to animate the breast of the lord of 

 creation himself. It is a poor heart, proverbially, 

 which never rejoices, but I opine it must be a very 

 sodden nature which does not feel that something 

 delightful and pleasing has entered into life when 

 the days begin to lengthen, and the warmth of May 

 assumes a deeper and deeper glow. 



We are greatly creatures of our environment 

 every -living thing owes much to its surroundings 

 and the moods and tenses of the mind assuredly 

 become attuned to a sympathy with the course of that 



