XIII. 



THE VERNAL FLOWERS. 



In oar climate we seldom realize, during the months 

 of April and May, that pleasant temperature which is 

 supposed to characterize the vernal season of the year. 

 The earth is often covered with snow until the first of 

 April, and the weather is too cold for vegetation before 

 the middle of the month. The progress of the year is 

 retarded by the prevalence of north-easterly winds, and 

 the icebergs that float down from the Arctic seas infuse 

 a chill into our atmosphere, long after the sun has 

 brought out the early flowers, and arrayed the whole 

 wilderness in blossoms. The vernal flowers of our 

 climate do not begin to appear before the middle of 

 April, except in extraordinary seasons, and many of 

 them, retarded by the protracted chills from the ocean, 

 continue to deck the fields until they are suddenly 

 brought to maturity by the hot summer sun. It is not 

 unusual for the whole month of April to pass away 

 without producing more than* two or three species of 

 wild flowers ; and, on May-day, the youths and maidens 

 are often obliged to abandon their search for flowers, 

 and to crown their young queen with a simple wreath 

 of evergreens. 



