MERRY MAY. 35 



on the first of May, but in our northern isle 

 it is more likely to be rime than dew. 



May is a sunny month, but a most uncertain 

 and treacherous one. One day it will be like 

 an Indian summer with a S.S.-W. breeze blow- 

 ing ; next day it may be a regular N.N.-easter, 

 with Arctic cold chilling one to the bone, and 

 reminding one of winter. Frosty nights are 

 common, and do much damage to the fruit 

 blossom; but for all her fickleness the tempera- 

 ture of May rises as the sun mounts high in 

 the heavens ; the bare trees put on their leafy 

 coverings ; 



" Its genial call dead nature hears, 

 And in her glory reappears." 



And as evidence that summer is near, the Swal- 

 lows and other spring migrants appear. 



" Upon a bright and balmy clay, 



The flowers around were springing ; 

 With hymns of love the birds so gay 



Set all the wood a-ringing. 

 The trouts did leap, the birds did low, 



The merry lambs were playing, 

 And in the hawthorn dell below 



A lassie fair was maying." 



