ad infinitum, — meet us at every turn during 

 the dog-days. The panting victims — pretty 

 even in their agonies, look at us, and we look 

 at them as we pass, imploringly ; and yet 

 with all the patience of suffering martyrs. 

 We are fellow -sufferers, and live — to please 

 the world. Telle est la vie! They must be 

 allowed to do as they like, and we as we 

 like. But let us now kick Fashion out of 

 the window, at all events for the summer 

 season; and bury ourselves alive in the 

 treasures of Nature. 



The late grand storm, — we were out in it, 

 and could write a volume in praise of its 

 grandeur and sublimity, albeit we were a 

 moving sheet of water illuminated by light- 

 ning — has worked quite a revolution in the 

 fields and gardens. How deeply did the 

 thirsty ground drink, during the night, of the 

 descending showers ! What an aroma was 

 there exhaled thereby from the grateful 

 honeysuckle and the sweet -smelling briar! 

 Never did roses give forth a richer fra- 

 grance, — never did lilies look so overpower- 

 ingly lovely, while their eyelids trembled in 

 the dew of the fair morning. The corn, too, 

 what new powers of life has it not put forth ! 

 All is now nearly ready for harvest — a 

 harvest, let us hope, of unexampled abund- 

 ance. 



As for the heaths and the commons, — let 

 all who would revel in the wildness of 

 Nature's loveliness, seek them at once. 

 They now abound in flowers of the various 

 species of heath {Erica) ; which cover thern 

 with a fine purple hue. The ferns, too, are 

 fast coming into flower; of these, the pteris 

 aquilina is perhaps the most beautiful; 

 though it seems unfair to make any distinc- 

 tions. We do indeed love to wander on the 

 heaths at this season, where 



The furze, 

 Enriched among its spines, with golden flowers 

 Scents the keen air, whilst all its thornv groups, 

 Wide scatter'd o'er the waste, are full of life; 

 For 'midst its yellow bloom, the assembled 



Chats 

 Wave high the tremulous wing, and with 



shrill notes, 

 But clear and plea3ant, cheer th' extensive 



ground. 



Nor can you walk long without hearing a 

 variety of other pleasing voices. The linnets 

 assemble here in countless multitudes ; and 

 here, — 



Bashful, close-hiding iD these scenes, remote 

 From his congeners (they who make the 



woods 

 And the thick copses echo to their song), 

 The heath-thrush makes his domicile ; and while 

 His patient mate with downy bosom warms 

 Their future nestlings, he his love-lay sings 

 Loud to the shaggy wild. 



In the same locality too, you may see the 



modest erica, rejoicing in the company of 

 honey bees, who sip their nectar from her 

 lovely lips. How amiable she looks ! She 

 appears 



Sometimes with bells like amethysts; and then 

 Paler; shaded like the maiden's cheek 

 With gradual blushes, — other while as white 

 As rime upon the frozen spray. 



But we must not tarry on the heath any 

 longer. There are things, that to be valued 

 must be seen — not talked of. Such are the 

 things in praise of which we have ventured 

 to lift our pen but for a small moment. 



We would just suggest, byway of variety, 

 a little evening stroll at this season. Twi- 

 light now has charms inexpressible. We 

 dearly, dearly love 



That soft half-sleep of Nature, when all things 

 Are dozing into twilight, while the moon 

 Steps forth to wake them with a gentle kiss 

 Of light and beauty. Heaven and earth are 



peace ; 

 The broad blue ocean and the deep blue sky, 

 Looking with languor in each other's face, 

 Are blushing fondly; in the drowsy dells 

 The water chimes of rill and rivulet 

 Are playing silverly their serenade: 

 Soft winds are toying with the yielding trees; 

 And the last sun-gleam from the saddening 



vale 

 Still hangs upon the mountain's neck of snow, 

 As loth to leave it — 'Tis the hour of Love! 



This is a subject on which we leave all " to 

 dwell, 11 whom it may concern. We are re- 

 sponsible thus far — but no further ! 



We have said, that we shall be fortunate 

 if we get any one to read at this season of 

 gaiety what we might dot down about fields, 

 flowers, gardens, and country walks by twi- 

 light. We repeat it ; and shall therefore 

 eschew prolixity. What time we have to 

 spare (provided we be not deliquescent, and 

 resolved into our original element — for not 

 only heat, but " dust " awaits us at every 

 corner), let us devote it religiously to the 

 country and its enjoyments. 



An " August in London, 11 cannot have 

 many charms : — 



Now do fierce rays of fervent heat 



Full on the scorching pavement beat; 



As o'er it the faint breeze, hy fits 



Alternate, blows and intermits. 



For short-lived green, a russet-brown 



Stains every withering shrub in Town. 



Darkening the air, in clouds arise 



The " Egyptian plagues" of dust and flies; 



And wasps, those foreigners voracious, 



Buzz through the shops in swarms audacious. 



At rest, in motion, forced to roam 



Abroad, or to remain at home, — 



Nature proclaims one common lot 



For all conditions — " Be ye hot!"' 



Day is intolerable. Night 



As close, and suffocating quite. 



