KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



105 



OUK EASLY VIOLETS. 



How simple, yet how beautiful, these sense-en- 

 trancing flowers, 



That first appear to welcome Spring, in lanes, 

 and meads, and bowers ! 



In modesty enwrapt they rise, in loveliness they 

 grow, 



Enamored sunbeams leave the skies to dwell 

 with them below. 



The East may boast its stately plants, effulgent in 



their pride ; 

 The South of matchless gaiety extending far and 



wide ; 

 But fairer, sweeter, lovelier flowers no clime hath 



ever grown, 

 Than these much-cherished violets we proudly 



call our own. 



Like them the flowers of social life, who breathe 



its sweets around, 

 Add grace to humble, cheerful paths, and in such 



paths are found. 

 They make not Nature slave to Art, and thus a 



truth explain — 

 That those who covet praise the least, the highest 



praise obtain. 



OUR M1ESOR OF THE MONTHS. 

 MARCH. 



Now doth 

 The natural year, a shadow of the sun, 

 AVake from the earth a chequer'd tapestry, 

 To greet his footsteps as he passes on. 

 Stern Winter, lingering on the verge of Spring, 

 Retires reluctant, and from time to time 

 Looks back, while, at his keen and chilling breath, 

 Fair Flora sickens. 



Who can utter the word — "March," 

 without an anticipation of the fondest enjoy- 

 ments in store for him during the rest of 

 the year ? All these joys do not come at 

 once. Oh — no ! They are, as the poet 

 sweetly sings, 



" Unfolding every hour." 



Moreover, rightly to enter into them, one 

 must seek for them diligently in their much- 

 loved hiding places. An anxious eye, and a 

 loving hearl , will need no prompting where 

 to look. Sympathy will direct the steps. 



Truly modest is your u garden of nature," 

 setting an example that we should like to 

 see followed throughout the land. It is 

 our observation of this, that causes us so 

 often to be severe in our strictures upon 

 womankind. Woman is poetically associ- 

 ated with flowers, — yet, may we ask wherein 

 she resembles them ? Certainly none of 

 our women in towns and cities can claim 

 any affinity to a flower-garden ; for in all 

 things are they as wwnatural as it is possible 

 for them to be. Oh that we could prevail 

 upon the sex to be " lock-outs," and to enter 

 into a " strike " against the monopolising 

 spirit of that hydra,— " Fashion." Then 

 would they, instead of being worshipped as 



now for their dress and " make-up," be 

 valued for themselves alone, — having 



"That within which passeth show." 



But we feel we are wasting time ; and there- 

 fore we at once address ourself to those who 

 can afford to be laughed at for preferring 

 nature to art. For such only do we write ; 

 such only do we love. 



Well ; February has passed away. It has 

 been a month of clouds and sunshine, warmth 

 and cold, encouragement and disappoint- 

 ment. We have had wind, rain, hail, snow, 

 and heavy storms, — all which have done the 

 bidding of their glorious Lord and Master. 

 The earth is regenerated, compensation has 

 been restored to the atmosphere, the farmers 

 and gardeners have been busy ; and the 

 balance is now every way in our favor. 



How our animal spirits have ebbed and 

 flowed during the past month ! How we 

 have suffered from the ailments peculiar to 

 the season ! We have fallen and risen with 

 the barometer ; and coughed loudly as Boreas 

 when rejoicing in the exercise of his goodly 

 lungs. This has not added to our strength, 

 nor to the improvement of our personnel. 

 Nevertheless, under all our sufferings (severe 

 enough, truly !) we have been happy ; and 

 whenever the dear sun has shone upon us, — as 

 if from sympathy, we have been "jolly." 

 What a look is that which he gives us, when 

 he means that we should see him ! What a 

 hope is that which he inspires, when his be- 

 nevolent countenance proclaims him so truly 

 honest of heart. Of all travelling com- 

 panions, give us mighty Sol. In his sweet 

 company, we have made many vows, and 

 never broken them, — formed dreams of bliss 

 that may yet be realised, and made " con- 

 fessions " known to none other. 



It must not be supposed that our bodily 

 ailments have diverted us from our regular 

 course of action. Not a bit of it! Constant 

 have we been in duty ; and as constant in 

 pleasure. Many a nook and corner has seen 

 us, — the sun alone the companion of our 

 ramble, investigating the progress of birds 

 and flowers. We do not preach without 

 practising our own doctrines. We court 

 fresh air and exercise daily, and thus do we 

 keep our doors hermetically closed against 

 the entrance of those pills and draughts 

 which are so greedily swallowed by the fan- 

 ciful — ad nauseam. We state this at the 

 risk of being deemed a heathen. 



February has its good points. It is per- 

 haps one of those months which are most 

 fondly remembered by certain people, who 

 on and after the 14th, " drink to their better 

 acquaintance." It is marvellous to behold 

 the universal activity that prevails on that 

 day ; and we verily believe it has a goodly 

 influence on society, by rousing them from 



