70 UPLAND AND MEADOW, 



now, and the same may be said of the bellworts and 

 Solomon's seal. In one nook, sheltered by cedars and 

 a noble beech, there is also to be found, more beautiful 

 than all, a roseate bush of blooming azalea. Before its 

 leaves are grown, and a week or more in advance of its 

 kind elsewhere, this "wild honeysuckle" anticipates 

 May, and gives us a pleasant foretaste of the coming 

 month. 



Nevertheless, April along Poaetquissings is not like 

 the April on the Wissahickon, only thirty miles away, 

 of which it has been written : 



" Oh, Spring! how lovely is thy garlanded 

 And fresh young brow! how sweet thy varying voice 1 

 What a glad music rings in every note 

 Of love aerial ! Brilliant is thy green 

 New robe! and far along the rippling waters, 

 How breaks the blue into a myriad stars — 

 The glittering river, which is sprinkled o'er 

 With diamonds of the sun. Swift Progne bathes 

 In that blue radiance of reflected heaven 

 Her ardent breast a moment ere she speeds 

 In twittering joy on her aCrial course. 

 Here is an Eden for the young and gay, 

 For hearts unshadowed by the raven wing, 

 For the fresh, roseate cheeks Hygeia loves; 

 For the defiant laugli, the careless carol, 

 And the free tread of angel feet o'er flowers 

 As pure and bright as only childhood knows — 

 O'er moss-embowered trailing epigaea. 

 Clear as Diana's alabaster brow. 

 The gem of April's robe — sweet epigaeal 

 Thy purity is stamped upon my heart 

 In "angel whiteness," and thy odorate breath 

 Redeems the grossness of the earth and links 

 Our senses to the spirit world beyond!" 



