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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



place which closed the amusing fellow's career. — 

 It happened that a traveller from some chemical 

 works called at the shop, offering for sale a cheap 

 sort of grease adapted for smiths' use ; the vice- 

 man filled his grease-box with this composition ; 

 the next morning poor Jack was found lying on 

 his back. There is no doubt that he was in the 

 habit of feeding from the grease-pot, and some 

 poisonous ingredient in this compound finished 

 him. 



OTTR MIRBOR OF THE MONTHS. 

 JUNE. 



Copious dispenser of delight, bright June, 



All hail ! the meadows smile with flowery pride, 



Shed from thy lavish hand. 



It is a very favorite axiom of ours, 

 that half the pleasures of life consist in an- 

 ticipation. What we look for to-day, with- 

 out being able to realise it, we fondly hope 

 for to-morrow. And thus is life rendered 

 pleasant. 



We predicted in our last, that the month 

 of May would dawn upon us in all its beau- 

 ties at once. We were still further confirmed 

 in the hope and the belief by the advent of 

 May-day. The fair sun rose on that auspi- 

 cious morn in all his beauty, glory, and splen- 

 dor. All nature rejoiced in the scenes of 

 loveliness visible on every hand. Thousands 

 and tens of thousands were poured out to 

 revel in the enjoyments that awaited them, 

 and the day closed as it had opened, — with a 

 splendid and serene sky. 



We shall never forget the happiness we 

 enjoyed on May-day, — surrounded as we 

 w r ere by nightingales, blackcaps, thrushes, 

 blackbirds, skylarks, and all the choristers 

 of the grove. Knowing well their sequestered 

 haunts, we sought them in fair company, and 

 enshrined ourselves in the very heart of the 

 country. The sky was our canopy ; the earth 

 our carpet, curiously wrought with every 

 variety of living patterns ; whilst rivulets 

 of water were, by their melodious raur- 

 murings, completing our realisation of 

 perfect repose. 



Neither we, nor our fair companion, found 

 cause for regret in having so passed the 

 opening day of the month. Our fickle cli- 

 mate deeming it, perhaps, unwise to give us 

 too many such treats at once, changed the 

 scene completely on the succeeding day. 

 Wind, rain, storms, intense cold, and all the 

 rigors of winter, set in; and from that time 

 until past the middle of the month.we had little 

 to think of, save great-coats and comfortable 

 fires. Just so was it last year. 



Well, we have patiently borne all these 

 trials ; availing ourself of every stray oppor- 

 tunity to get into the fields, and watch the 

 progress of the season. We have seen 

 enough to warrant the belief that the winter 



is now over ; and that the heavy rains have 

 not fallen in vain. 



The herbage is beautifully green, all vege- 

 tation has gathered strength, and the orchards 

 give pleasing demonstration that their pro • 

 duce will be most abundant. We have had 

 no spring ; but we anticipate such a summer !• 



It would be idle ih us to do more than 

 hint to our readers what awaits them in 

 the month of June. In-door amusements 

 must, of course, be laid aside altogether. 

 The mind and body now must live out of 

 the sight of bricks and mortar. The soul 

 expands, this month. There is nothing but 

 poetry stirring. Pride, conceit, exclusive- 

 ness, sternness, ill-nature, bigotry, and de- 

 ceit, rule largely in the month of May; 

 but, thank God ! they appear to exhaust 

 themselves in their final efforts. If a man 

 would be self-righteous now — everything he 

 sees around him forbids the feeling. 



We love the summer, were it only for the 

 hallowing, sanctifying influences, it diffuses 

 over men by nature and habit sullen and 

 morose. " Man made the town ; God made 

 the country." Man plays the Pharisee, but 

 God commends the simplicity of the heart. 

 He who cannot worship and adore his Crea- 

 tor in rural solitude, or in a country ramble, 

 shall be no companion of ours. At such 

 times, we " love our neighbor as ourself;" 

 and that feeling brings with it a joy perfectly 

 indescribable. When nature attracts us, we 

 fall in love with her irresistibly. Her lady • 

 ship's smiles have witchery in them. She 

 looks at us, and we set up a ringing laugh of 

 joy. She woos us, and we give our very 

 soul up, a willing sacrifice to her charms. 

 A happy " union," this ! 



Oh Nature ! lovely Nature ! thou cans't give 

 Delight thyself a thousand ways ; and lend 

 To every object charms. With thee, even books 

 A higher interest gain. The Poet's lay 

 Grows sweeter in the shade of wavy woods, 

 Or lulling lapse of crystal streams beside. 



We have expressed our conviction, that 

 it is arrogant to attempt to sing in so many 

 words, of the delights of summer. No pen 

 can dare to aspire so high. We may plead ; 

 we may hint. There we must stop. We 

 cannot now go abroad, or enter any field or 

 garden, without being filled with admiration 

 at what we behold : — 



Not a flower 

 But shows some touch in freckle, streak, or stem, 

 Of God's unrivaU'd pencil. He inspires 

 Their balmy odors, and imparts their hues, 

 And bathes their eyes with nectar. He includes, 

 In grains as countless as the sea-side sand, 

 The forms with which he sprinkles all the earth. 



The same Almighty hand fashioned every 

 minute insect, and perfects its joy — whether 

 on the earth, in the air, or beneath the sur ■ 



