KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



dom where we bad fondly hoped to find 

 nothing but flowers. 



To endure this patiently, is a proof of 

 Philosophy. Let us candidly acknowledge 

 that we are " young " in that school. Our 

 heart aches at the "progress of the seasons" 

 thus far, — for we have lost what we cannot 

 see again for another twelve months, and 

 ere we had time to take even a parting leave 

 of it. Like Jonah's gourd, our delights of 

 Spring seem to have withered so soon as 

 they have sprung up. 



Well ; we have now entered upon July, — 

 the month of Summer. Let " hope " be 

 in the ascendant, and let us anticipate that 

 the latter part of the year will be more de- 

 lightful than the beginning. We have Hay- 

 making in the near distance ; and this pre- 

 sents a treat that we dearly love. Who is 

 there amongst us that cannot associate 

 some of his happiest hours with the hay- 

 field? Who is there that cannot remember 

 when, among the frolicsome lads and lasses, 

 all has been hurry-scurry ; leading to 

 " scrimmages " innumerable ; these even- 

 tually ending in a ringing laugh of innocent, 

 boisterous merriment ? Sunny days, these ! 

 say we ; and if the Sun ever means to show 

 his golden head again ( which our pen now 

 ventures, and with good reason, to doubt) 

 — won't we once more join in the festive 

 dance among the new-mown hay ! What a 

 profusion of it there will be this year ! 



We long once more to see the merry 

 mowers, stooping over their scythes, and 

 moving with measured paces through the 

 early morning mists — interrupted at intervals 

 by the freshening music of the whetstone. 

 We love to call to mind the many pastoral 

 enjoyments of bygone days, the zest for a 

 renewal of which is even now on the increase. 

 In these scenes, we live again. 



And what of the harvest-home and its 

 attendant pleasures ? A glance at these 

 would fill a volume. Where is the heart 

 that cannot rejoice when the fruits of the 

 earth are about to be all gathered safely in, 

 and. housed ? The last load ! There is 

 music in the words. 



The time is then come, when man and 

 nature, mutually assisting each other, have 

 completed everything that remains for them 

 to do. The laborers all stand round inamerry 

 group, joining in a laughing chorus. Their 

 wives and joyous children echo the song, 

 whilst the cart stands still to receive the last 

 fork-full of hay. The horse, too, understands 

 well what is going forward, and enjoys it as 

 much as the rest. All but hidden beneath 

 his over-arching load, you may see him lift 

 up his patient head to take a " sweet mouth- 

 ful " — by way of companionship. 



The sun-burnt laborers, leaning listlessly 

 on their implements, and eyeing the com- 



pletion of their work in the harvest field, is 

 a sight we love to gaze upon. Often have 

 we followed the " last load " home, and 

 made merry in the farmer's hall on our 

 arrival ! — How is it that these early scenes 

 dwell so vividly in the remembrance ? We 

 would not forget them — if we could. 



Our Subscribers are reminded, that it 

 will be needful for them to order imme- 

 diately, through their respective Book- 

 sellers, any of the back numbers of this 

 Journal which they may require to com- 

 plete their Sets. 



The Stock is being made up intoVoLUMES ; 

 and there may be, hereafter, some difficulty, 

 if not an impossibility, of obtaining any parti- 

 cular Number or Part that may be wanted. 



A copious Index to the First Twenty- six 

 Numbers, with Title-page, Preface, ^&c, is 

 now ready, price Threepence. It is pro- 

 curable in the same manner as the Journal. 



ORIGINAL CORKESPONDENCE. 



Does the Robin sing at this Season, whilst his 

 Mate is sitting? — Dear Mr. Editor; the very 

 same day I forwarded you the particulars of the 

 young Robins domiciled chezmoi (see page 361, 

 Vol. I.), their mamma paid them a final visit. 

 Nor would she then have entered the room, had 

 not her children put forth the most entreating 

 and eloquent cries. "When she did come, she 

 had some moss in her bill ! You will be glad to 

 hear that all my little friends are well. There is 

 already a tinge of orange perceptible on their 

 breasts, and one has already commenced " record- 

 ing" his song. I must tell you, that my " pet" 

 par excellence has since hatched another brood; 

 and although food is abundant, she is as fami- 

 liar as ever. Am I wrong in thinking that her 

 mate sings ? and that he has sung all the 

 Spring ? He is never near the nest, but in 

 quite the opposite part of the garden, excepting 

 when the hen was so frequently in my room. 

 He then came nearer the window. The note 

 has not the fullness of the autumn song, — yet 

 still I think it is he. What think you'i — Fo- 



KESTIERA. 



[What you here remark, has also been re- 

 marked by ourselves. The male does sing 

 (sweetly) at a remote distance, — whilst his cara 

 sposa is sitting. He remains in the garden, but 

 far removed ; and his song is varied for the pur- 

 pose of amusing his partner during her arduous 

 task. You may rely on this being the same 

 bird that has sung all the Spring; for he never 

 would have allowed access to any other bird on 

 his premises. The other portion of your letter, 

 which we have not printed, shall have due atten- 

 tion paid it at a fitting season. We are under obli- 

 gations to you for your friendly communications, 

 that we shall not readily forget; nor would we 

 " cancel " those obligations for the wealth of the 

 Indies.] 



Emancipated Canaries at Maidstone. — I have 

 read your " Canaries Breeding in the Open 



