360 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



NOTICE. 



All the numbers of this Journal are in print ; and 

 may be had from No. I. inclusive, price 3d. each. Also, 

 Parts I. to XL, price Is. Id. each; post-free, Is. 4d. 



As due notice was given to our Subscribers, early in 

 June last, to complete their Sets without delay, it is 

 hoped they have done so, as the Stock is now made up 

 into Sets, and very few "odd" numbers are on hand. 

 The price of the first two Quarterly, and the first Half- 

 yearly Yolumes, will remain as before— until December 

 26th. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



The Aviary and its Occupants will be continued in our 

 next. 



Communications Received. — Bombyx Atlas. — J. B. M., 

 Glasgow. Your bookseller, who told you this Journal 

 "died" a month ago, told you a fib. We are sorry 

 you cannot obtain it ; but we really cannot do more 

 than we have done. — D. C. As your Bullfinch suffers 

 no pain from the swelling, do not make yourself uneasy 

 about it. It will not increase. You may give him 

 melon seeds, and the seeds of vegetable marrow, if you 

 will ; but no apple pips. Feed regularly on canary 

 and flax ; discard hemp seed and the use of the bath ; 

 and your bird will enjoy good health. 



To Correspondents. — As we always print one Dumber 

 of the Journal in advance, such of our Correspondents 

 as may not receive replies to their questions in the cur- 

 rent number, must bear in mind that they are not for- 

 gotten. We pay marked attention to all favors. 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



Saturday, December 4, 1852. 



There are some few things that we 

 may harmlessly take upon ourselves to 

 answer for, — among them, let us record the 

 fact of there being universal rejoicings at the 

 departure of November. Such a month of 

 rain, wind, storms, earthquakes, floods, and 

 severe illness, — we never remember. The 

 " oldest inhabitant " scratches his head, 

 whilst cudgelling his brains to recollect any- 

 thing at all like it. We had a few intervals 

 of sunshine at the commencement of the 

 month ; and we embraced a tine day to 

 ramble abroad in the country. We recorded 

 that ramble, — just in time.* We saw the 

 leaves trembling in the wind. We" heard 

 the trees singing a lullaby to the fanning 

 zephyrs, and we recognised the gradual pre- 

 paration for the departing autumn. The 

 sun, then, was in his best of humors, — our 

 heart too was in excellent tune ; and we 

 have lived upon the delightful recollection of 

 that red-letter day ever since. 



A change has now come over us. The 

 forests are bare ; the trees perfectly naked ; 

 the hedges scant of flowers ; the fields at 

 this time of writing, flooded with water ; the 

 ground strewed with leaves ; and stern Old 

 Winter has given notice of his approach. 

 This is undeniably true. We are in 

 December, 



* Sec No. 47, p. 328. 



We are not going to frighten any of our 

 readers, by recommending them at this 

 season to wander abroad and " enjoy the 

 country ;" nor will we subject ourselves to 

 ridicule, by saying that they would be amply 

 repaid for their walk. This must be a matter 

 of opinion and taste. Still, Ave reserve to 

 oursel\ T es this right ; and Ave can, even noAv, 

 when the sun shines, see in the country 

 beauties innumerable. It is uoav that the 

 feathered tribes clraAv nearer to us, and be- 

 come more familiar ; and AA r e can uoav better 

 test the general amiability of their dispo- 

 sitions. Walk Avhere you will, you -will find 

 yourselves in the company of the robin, the 

 wren, and the hedge-sparrow — musicians all, 

 and merry sociable, loving little rogues to 

 boot. We pity the man who cannot get 

 out for " a nice Avalk " in December, Avhen 

 the ground is dry. There is just as much to 

 observe and admire iioav, as ever there Avas. 

 And it is more varied. 



In some secluded situations, the leaves are 

 not entirely gone. They cling, solitarily, 

 here and there to their mother branch, as if 

 reluctant to bid it adieu. The feelings en- 

 gendered in the heart, Avhilst regarding these 

 natural yearnings even in the vegetable Avorld 

 for the extension of life, are not to be lightly 

 esteemed. They speak Avith a very poAver- 

 ful voice to a reflective mind, and induce a 

 pleasing melancholy, — ending in veneration 

 and the purest love for God. At such 

 seasons, Iioav delightful is it to meet Avith 

 if but one single friend Avhose heart beats 

 in unison with your oavu ! We imagine this 

 to be a degree of happiness rarely knoAvn. 

 Geniality of feeling is so seldom responded 

 to, that the heart is as it were forced to par- 

 take of its own joys alone. It feels Avhat it 

 can never utter. It sees Avhat it can neA r er 

 impart. These feelings are holy, but they 

 are evanescent. Still, the savor of them abides 

 until a reneAval takes place ; nor can Ave 

 witness the falling of the last leaf without an 

 inward persuasion that, as the poet says, — 



" Whatever is— is right." 



Adieu ! pale relic from yon Avidowetl tree, 

 Hovering aAvhile in air, as if to leave 

 Thy native sprig reluctant; how I grieve, 

 And heave the sigh of kindred sympathy 



That thou art fall'n! for I, too, whilom played 

 Upon the topmost bough of youth's gay spring ; 

 Have sported blithe on summer's golden wing, 

 And now, — I see thy fleeting autumn fade. 



Yet, " sere and yellow leaf," though thou and I 

 Thus far resemble, — and this form, like thee, 

 In the cold silent ground be doom'd to lie, 

 Thou never more wilt climb thy parent tree. 



But I, through faith, and hope, and love, do trust 

 That I shall rise again, e'en from the dust. 



The winds and heavy floods of November 

 may be said to have constituted the " Over- 



