MAY. 103 



set. We see around us fields golden with crow- 

 foot, and cattle basking in plenty. We hear the 

 sonorous streams chiming into the milk-pail in 

 the nooks of crofts, and on the other side of 

 hedges. 



Towards the close of the month, the mind, 

 which has been continually led onward by the 

 expansion of days, leaves, and flowers, seems to 

 repose on the fulness of nature. Every thing 

 is clothed. The spring actually seems past. 

 We are surrounded by all that beauty, sun- 

 shine and melody which mingle in our ideas of 

 summer. The hawthorn is in full flower; the 

 leafy hedges appear half-buried in the lofty 

 grass. Butterflies take their wavering flight 

 from flower to flower ; and dragonflies on the 

 banks of rivers. Sheep-washing is begun in 

 many places. The mowing-grass presents a 

 mosaic of the most gorgeous and inimitable 

 hues, or is white with waving umbels. A 

 passing gale awakens a scene of lively anima- 

 tion. The massy foliage of trees swings hea- 

 vily, the boughs of the hawthorn wave with all 

 their loads of fragrant bloom, and snowy um- 

 belliferous plants toss on the lea like foam on 

 the stormy ocean. Now sweet poesy, 



Let thy happy votary roam, 

 For the green earth is his home, 

 When the tree-tops are besnowed 

 With the blossoms' gorgeous load, 



