MAY. 



Lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. 

 The flowers appear on the earth ; the time of the singing of birch 

 is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our laud. 



Song of Solomon ii. 11, 12. 



However the festivities with which our an- 

 cestors hailed the opening of this month maj- 

 have sunk into neglect, Nature has not forsaken 

 her festivities. She still scatters flowers, and 

 revels in dews ; she still loves her leafy garni- 

 ture, and the bursts of unoppressive sunshine ; 

 for, though we moderns may abandon the cus- 

 toms of our forefathers, and may even deny to 

 May those joyous attributes with which they 

 delighted to invest her ; though we complain of 

 cold winds, dull days, and frosty nights, cutting 

 down flower and leaf, and have them too, yet is 

 May a gladsome month withal. Vegetation has 

 made a proud progress ; it has become deep, 

 lavish, and luxuriant ; and nothing can be more 

 delightful than the tender green of the young 



