102 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 
bonanza in clover seed, or in the potato crop. Another year (if 
atmospheric conditions are favorable in May) the exuberance 
comes to the hay crop. But the emphatic prodigality of gifts 
rarely extends all round the circle. The bee-keepers at times 
complain of a honey famine, then follows a glut, the bounty is 
always present or on its way but comes as a surprise, so that 
the successful peasant is always a possibility, but not unfre- 
quently ‘‘fails to get there.’’ The poets have outlined the 
ideal farmer (landlord) as Endymion (sometimes Sir Guy): 
It seemed his genius discreet 
Worked on the maker’s own receipt, 
And made each tide and element 
Stewards of stipend and of rent, 
So that the common waters fell 
As costly wine into his weli. 
He had so sped his wise affairs 
That he caught nature in his snares. 
Early or late the falling rain 
Arrived in time to swell his grain. 
Stream could not so perversely wind 
But corn of Guy’s was there to grind. 
The siroc found it on its way 
To speed his sails, to dry his hay ; 
And the world’s sun seemed but to rise 
To drudge all day for Guy the wise, 
And all the hours of the year 
With their own harvest honored were. 
There was no frost but welcome came, 
Nor freshet, nor midsummer flame; 
Belonged to wind the toil 
And venture and to Guy the oil. 
Guy simply learned to understand the Law and conformed 
there-to. 
HATCHLEY, March 29th, rgot. 
Until about the 15th January, the winter was considered 
mild in temperature. After that date steady winter weather 
ruled in these parts. December on the whole was a mild win- 
ter month, and in southern exposure a few dandelion flowers 
were noticeable as late as the 21st of that month, and flowers 
of the blue fringed gentian were gathered by an acquaintance of 
the present writer, not far from here; wild, blue and yellow 
violets were also noticed in blossom on the borders of our woods 
