26 FEBRUARY. 



see, on their lower branches, the buds enveloped in 

 their downy covering ready to break forth, while 

 shaded in the hollows the brambles are putting forth 

 their fresh buds. I love the bramble, free, easy and 

 independent as he is, rambling o'er hill and dale, 

 through valley and lea, ever and anon catching at the 

 clothes of some incautious traveller, as if to court 

 attention, or combing large tufts of hair from off the 

 wandering cow's sleek sides, wherewith the robin 

 lines her mossy nest in winter. When almost every- 

 thing amongst vegetable life is in brumal repose, the 

 bramble cheers us with his shining leaves ; in summer 

 he throws out bunches of pretty rosaceous flowers, 

 gladdening the heart of the schoolboy as he speculates 

 upon how many of those tiny roses will reach fruition ; 

 while in the autumn the black and shining berry, 

 hanging in clusters among the deep green leaves, bring 

 back to our memories reminiscences of happy days 

 when, with basket on our arm and health in our cheek, 

 we rambled in pursuit of them. 



" Thy fruit full well the school- boy knows, 



Wild bramble of the brake ; 

 So put thou forth thy small white rose, 

 I love it for his sake. 



" Though woodbines flaunt and roses blow 



O'er all the fragrant bowers, 

 Thou need'st not be asham'd to show 

 Thy satin-threaded flowers. 



" For dull the eye, the heart is dull, 



That cannot feel how fair, 

 Amid all beauty, beautiful, 

 Thy tender blossoms are. 



