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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



self on every Lank of primroses and violets that 

 comes in the way of our happy feet. Nimble are 

 we yet, as the nimblest, young as the youngest ; 

 and our heart — oh, Fino ! if you could see our 

 heart ! — yearns for the company of those who can 

 enter with us into the feelings inseparable from 

 Spring; feelings pure and holy, such as no tongue 

 can describe, but which are peculiar to all who 

 are true lovers of nature. We would "live " now 

 (if we could) in the open air, and turn our back 

 upon towns, cities, cares, anxieties, and literary 

 drudgery — -for ever!] 



OUR MIRROR OF THE MONTHS. 



APRIL. 



Now silvery streamlets, from the mountain stealing, 

 Dance joyously the verdant vales along. 

 Cold fear no more the songster's song is sealing, 

 Down in the thick dark grove is heard his song ; 

 And all their bright and lovely hues revealing, 

 A thousand plants tne field and forest throng ; 

 Light comes upon the earth in radiant showers, 

 And mingling rainbows play among the flowers. 



We are always delighted when the 

 time comes round for us to pen down a few 

 of our thoughts on what is going on beyond 

 the walls of cities. It must not be imagined 

 that our life is one of pure sunshine ; that 

 w r e have no troubles, no cares, no sorrows, 

 no anxieties, no perplexities. Alas ! very 

 many of these fall to our share ; and though 

 we may be imagined to be always gay, yet 

 are the words of our favorite poet often in 

 our mouth, — 



"I'm saddest, when I sing." 



What a curious compound is man's existence ! 

 and the human heart, — what a puzzle ! 



The month of March has been an eventful 

 month, as regards both public and private 

 individuals. It has marked its progress in 

 a manner never to be forgotten. Deaths 

 innumerable (many of them fearfully sudden) 

 have occurred where least expected. A friend, 

 seen to day hearty and well, has on the 

 morrow been stretched out a lifeless corpse. 

 W T e have heard of bereavements out of 

 number, — leaving surviving families desolate 

 and destitute. Sounds of sorrow have sad- 

 dened our heart; scenes of misery have 

 grieved our spirit. We have tried to sing ; 

 but our harp has been out of tune. We 

 have tried to be merry ; but " the time to 

 mourn" has set aside that feeling. Thus has 

 the past month been, with some sweet ex- 

 ceptions, a trying one to our usually volatile 

 temperament. Would we were singular ! 



Yet have we not failed to wander abroad 

 and note the passing objects peculiar to the 

 season. We have seen the rooks building ; 

 and listened to their happy voices ; we have 

 seen little lambs, too, frisking about and 

 enjoying themselves in the sun. We have 

 regarded insect-life awakening from its 

 torpor, and we have gazed intently on the 

 opening flower, — all creating in us feelings of 



admiration and wonder. Then our little 

 friends, the birds, — how busy they have 

 been ! How sweet the melody of their 

 voices ; and how unceasing the preparations 

 for building their nests ! Robins, thrushes, 

 blackbirds, — all have eggs, and some have 

 young ones. 



What an ever-memorable day was the 

 12th of March ! Was ever day more serene — 

 more lovely ? On that day we were in our 

 element ; and during a long ramble we ex- 

 perienced once again the joyousness of a 

 heart alive to the expanding beauties of 

 nature. It would fill a volume, Avere we to 

 note down singly what came under our 

 observation as we walked along. We saw, 

 felt, and enjoyed everything that we beheld ; 

 and as all nature was " happy," we could not 

 be an exception. The gardens, too, during 

 the month of March,— how wonderfully they 

 progressed ! How delightful it has been to 

 see green things one by one bursting vigor- 

 ously through the mould ; and to observe, 

 on warm sunny banks, dear little flowers 

 nodding to us with the familiarity of old 

 friends! Pensively sad, —pleasingly happy 

 have we been, whilst greeting these w T elcomest 

 of all welcome visitors. In their sweet 

 company, innocence reigns supreme and the 

 thoughts become purified. What now lies 

 before us in this way ! Is not the coming 

 prospect lovely ? 



This reminds us that we must wake up 

 from our reverie. Cheerfulness is a pleasing 

 duty ; more particularly now, when there is 

 little (comparatively speaking,) to make us 

 sad. We are positively in April. 



April ! — the word, carries with it charms 

 inexpressible. The lovely goddess seems 

 kindly sent by Providence to compensate us 

 for all the little drawbacks to our happiness 

 that have preceded her advent. She unlocks 

 the heart, and stimulates the ear. At sight 

 of her, all nature rejoices, and is full of motion. 

 She smiles, and the bees fly out to welcome 

 her; animal and insect life alike acknowledge 

 her power. Springing up into a new existence, 

 they bound forth and take wing in all the 

 ecstacy of wonderment and happiness. 



Spring hails her approach with rapture ; 

 and so animates her subjects that they cling 

 to life with a fonder enjoyment than ever. 

 We love to live. We live to love. Are we 

 sad ? — April's tears share our sorrows. Are 

 we happy? — her sunny smiles add to our 

 happiness a hundredfold. Smiles and tears 

 hold their court this month. Go forth, 

 young and old, and join the levee. "There 

 is a time to w r eep, and a time to sing." 



April is this year " forward " in its beauties. 

 The warmth of the sun in March led us to 

 anticipate one of our lovely bygone early 

 Springs ; and we hope not to be disappointed. 

 The buds on the trees are now become con- 



