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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



week old. Again shall we watch them 

 narrowly, and mark their progress and de- 

 parture. 



The ceremony of feeding is a most amusing 

 one. The two parent birds are unceasing in 

 their self-imposed task, and luxuries out of 

 number are brought in constantly to the 

 young. We often wonder how such quantities 

 of food can be so readily disposed of. Still 

 is the cry for " more ! more ! " 



As for the song of the thrush, it is now 

 most delightful. May is just the month 

 when all the choristers break forth in un- 

 restrained happiness. Nor do they interfere 

 with each others' music, — all is pure har- 

 mony. To enjoy this season, of course we 

 must be out at daybreak. Who would be 

 a lie-a-bed in May ? Sights are there to be 

 seen, sounds are there to be listened to, that 

 turn our earth into a perfect Heaven : — 



"The flow'rs in their splendor now paint the gay 

 meads, 

 On yon balmy zephyr their odors take wing ; 

 The clear sparkling dew hangs around them in 

 beads ; 

 Rejoicing, they welcome the opening of Spring. 



The bee loves to feast on some rich-scented flower, 

 And kiss the red roses the long summer's day ; 



Till twilight o'ershadows his sweet elfin bower, 

 And makes him in joy to his hive haste away. 



With music sweet minstrels the valleys regale, 

 While chanting their anthems so melting at 

 e'en; 

 And clear crystal streamlets, that glide through 

 the vale, 

 Proclaim that effulgence hath dawn'd on the 

 scene. 



All Nature inHbeauty we joyfully see, 



And fair blushing maidens in love's rosy bloom ; 

 Whilst lambkins are frisking in infinite glee, 



And bidding defiance to sadness and gloom. 



In our next, we will give some more in- 

 teresting particulars about our hero; and 

 reply to many questions that have been 

 asked us about his food, etc. 



THE FOREST TREES OF ENGLAND. 



There are eighteen species of trees, known as 

 " the Forest Trees of England." Of these, Mr. 

 Loudon tells us in his " Arboretum," eleven only 

 are undoubted natives. He enumerates them as 

 follows : — Tilia par vi folia, Acer campestre, Frax- 

 inus excelsior, Fraxinus heterophylla, Ulmus 

 montana, Quercus robur, Quercus sessiliflora, 

 Fagus sylvatica, Carpinus Betulus, Betula alba, 

 and Piaus sylvestris. 



There are seven others ; which, if not decidedly 

 indigenous, are yet very common in England, and 

 must be included in any complete list of English 

 and Foreign Trees. Their names are : — Castanea 

 vesca, Acer pseudo-Platanus, Tilia grandifolia, 

 Tilia Furopoia, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus Campes- 

 tris, and Ulmus suberosa. 



OUR MIRROR OF THE MONTHS. 

 MAY. 



Give me a May-day, that amid the fields, 

 Treading on flowers, and in the odorous air, 

 I may roam on o'er mountains and through woods : 

 And as the tender memories of the dead 

 Stream o'er me from the things they loved so once, 

 And from the flowers that decked their early biers, 

 I— feeling saddest love within my soul- 

 May feel my soul, and know I am immortal. 



It really does seem a piece of gratui- 

 tous assumption for any mortal to attempt 

 to sing the glories of Spring ; and to comment 

 in so many w r ords upon what meets the eye, 

 and steals upon the senses in the open air of 

 Heaven in the month of May. 



Are there any persons in the world who 

 can fail to enjoy this festive season? We 

 fear there are — many. Yet are they people 

 without soul ; and so we leave them to bury 

 themselves in dirty cities and smoky towns, 

 whilst we run out in all the buoyancy of 

 regenerated youth into the fields and hedge- 

 rows. 



What first greets our vision ? Green, — 

 refreshing green. Green is Nature's univer- 

 sal livery. How beautifully clean and new 

 is every item in her ladyship's wardrobe ! 

 At each turn we take, there is a profusion 

 of verdure before, behind, and on every side 

 of us. Nature's carpet is fresh laid ; and 

 nothing surely can be more grateful than to 

 press its velvet surface. Then what a con- 

 stant succession of rapid changes await us 

 day by day ! 



There is a beautiful diversity 



In every change of Nature. He that rules 



The universe, displays creative power 



In the minutest objects of our vision; 



As the most magnified extents of suns 



That give light, heat, and life, to rolling orbs 



Existing in their systems. While the year 



Lives on the breath of Time, there's more to love 



In each degree, where'er we turn our eyes, 



To exercise our thoughts. 



And how great is the zest with which we 

 again behold these lovely objects from which 

 we have so long been parted ! A long winter 

 has buried us in frost, snow, wind, and rain ; 

 we have borne it all, and survived. We are 

 just awaking, like Nature, from a state of 

 torpor — 



And now that the cold winds and snows are gone, 



We feel the invigorating strength of Spring ; 



Greet the first flowers that lift their tender bells 



To meet the approbation of the sun, 



Like modest Genius venturing in the world 



For literary commendation ; or 



Young Beauty in her bashmlness, whose lips 



Have felt the kisses of her love's first love ; — 



So sweet are thy returns, 0, Heavenly May ! 



To enjoy all that now awaits us, requires 

 little beyond the disposition to do so. If we 

 retire late to roost, and toss restlessly upon 



