KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



73 



Then shall we awaken to our " grand mis- 

 take," and find that we are ourselves 

 the " evil world " of which we have so long 

 and so bitterly complained. 



The season of Summer throws a great 

 light upon these insinuations of ours. Peo- 

 ple of all classes, and grades, are accidentally- 

 thrown together as they travel about ; and 

 we see many a smile "ornamenting" the 

 face of a belle in the open air of a country 

 lane, or park, which dared not have appeared 

 in a gay city. Ex. gr. — A few days since, we 

 were rusticating in the lovely Botanic 

 Gardens at Kew. Here were assembled, 

 amongst others, some ladies of fashion, and 

 their children — aged we imagine respectively 

 from ten to fourteen. The mammas, icy 

 and distant enough in all conscience for 

 fashion's rules, were on their entrance perfect 

 models of unbending propriety. They 

 looked neither to the right, nor to the left. 

 Little knew they, little cared they for 

 Nature. However, flowers, trees, shrubs, 

 and gardens, have a humanising influence. 

 You cannot long associate with them without 

 deriving benefit from the contact ; and we 

 noticed with real pleasure, that the frown of 

 scorn had during their walk been gradually 

 changed for a look of wonder. The children 

 too were, ere they left, allowed to ramble 

 on the grass in the harmless pursuit of some 

 of the happy blackbirds and thrushes who 

 are here so much % ' at home." These inno- 

 cent creatures, as they hopped fearlessly 

 forward, seemed to enjoy as much pleasure 

 as the children. It was a pretty sight to 

 witness. We are not quite sure that our 

 countenance was not radiated with delight ; 

 nor are we certain that a kindly look of in- 

 ward approbation did not greet us in return 

 as we passed the family. Our heart seemed 

 to have had a private audience, and the 

 hearing to have been in our favor. Oh ! 

 why should all the kindly feelings of our 

 nature be so cruelly stifled for nine months 

 in the year ? Nobody knows. Of course 

 not. 



We must here again repeat, that Nature 

 wisely rules the seasons. She will not let- 

 people be altogether bad ; but calls the 

 cheerful sun to aid in thawing their hearts, 

 when they have become hard. Thus, she 

 often causes the better feelings of mankind 

 to " ooze " out on many such occasions as the 

 foregoing. Nay, we glory in the confession 

 of often making them ooze out ; for we love 

 society, and will get at their " better feel- 

 ings " if it be possible. To this end we 

 never refuse any invite that may be offered 

 us, to make " one " of a Summer party ; 

 " provided always " as the legal gentlemen 

 word it, its destination be within reasonable 

 bounds ; and not incompatible with the 

 exercise of our public duties. 



We do not set ourselves up for moralists, 

 or attempt to talk about " bad hearts." We 

 try to make a heart called bad, better ; and it 

 is, or ought to be, the bounden duty of every- 

 body to do the same thing. Life has its 

 toils, truly. We most of us lead lives of 

 anxiety, and wearisomeness ; but the Wise 

 Man has said, " There is a time for every- 

 thing." So, let us look upon this as being 

 " the time to be joyful." 



If any of our friends think our society 

 desirable, thereupon let issue be joined. Our 

 heart is light as air; our spirits not above 

 " proof," but buoyant as a gossamer ; and 

 our creed is a right honest one — viz. Love 

 to God and our fellow man. We need not 

 add " Woman ;" in that matter we are, like 

 Csesar's wife, quite above suspicion. 



ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. 



Early Rising. — You are continually " hinting," 

 Mr. Editor, at the benefits arising from quitting 

 the pillow early. 1 think if you were to pen a 

 separate essay on the subject, and point out all the 

 advantages arising therefrom, you would work a 

 pleasing change in the sleeping world. What 

 say you? — Sylvia. 



[Your devoted servant are we, sweet Sylvia ; 

 but for us to attempt to enumerate all or half 

 the benefits derivable from early rising, what 

 an impossibility ! All early risers are no doubt 

 — if they reside in the country — observers of 

 nature. Now the observer of nature sees the 

 first fine spring day, and leaps up with transport 

 —sees a world full of beauty and pleasure, even 

 in towns — sees the young and fair abroad, and 

 sees their lovely countenances and minds — sees 

 the white pigeons careering round the steeple, 

 the horses issuing forth with new strength and 

 sprightliness, the dog scampering about his 

 master in hopes he is going towards the fields, 

 and hyacinths, narcissuses, and violets in the 

 green markets; and seeing these, he cannot but 

 hasten the faster to see the country; instead of 

 reading his book at home, he takes it with him, 

 and sees what the poets describe. He sees the 

 returning blue of the sky, the birds all in motion, 

 the glancing showers, the after-laughing sun, the 

 maiden blossoms in the gardens, the thickening 

 leanness of the hedges, the perfect young green 

 of the meadows, the bustling farm-yards, the far 

 prospects, the near and odorous bowers, the bee 

 bounding forth with his deep song through the 

 lightsome atmosphere, the kids leaping, the 

 cattle placidly grazing, the rainbow spanning 

 the hills in all its beauty and power, the showers 

 again, the blue sky again, the sun triumphing 

 over the moisture, like bright eyes above dewy 

 lips ; the perfumed evening, the gentle and the 

 virgin moon. — And what elseseeth he? Verily, 

 fair Sylvia, time would fail us to write more ; 

 and why should we anticipate what all ought to 

 enjoy? Use your own gentle influence in the 

 matter, and ever reckon on us as your warmest 

 supporter and best of friends.] 



