KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL, 



of such strolls, and the little innocent inci- 

 dents connected therewith — such as meeting 

 a marching regiment of young Misses, headed 

 by their " correct" governess,who,,when they 

 come to a stile, coughs, and keeps them all 

 stationary till you have passed ; &c. <&c. In 

 our days of boyhood, we resented these 

 little annoying manoeuvres od the part of 

 these " prim " pieces of educational parch- 

 ment, and we looidd \ooik behind us; aye, and 

 " assist ! " Why not ? What did we see ? — 

 only a pretty ankle or two (now carefully 

 concealed by modern drapery and disgusting 

 prudery from the observation of passers- 

 by), and some harmless feats of juvenile 

 gymnastics, followed by much pretty con- 

 fusion of little ambling feet ; also a ruddy 

 tint on the cheek, which it did us good to 

 behold. Health and innocence nestled in 

 that ruddy tint, when WE were boys ; and 

 many, many times have we saluted it, and 

 imparted that innocence and health to our 

 own— «rejoicing in " the impression" all the 

 week, and praying for the Sabbath to come 

 round again soon, that we might possess 

 ourselves of it in duplicate. 



" Nunc pia simplicitas nostrls fugit exul ah 

 amis!" 



But lest we be charged with some hidden 

 meaning, whilst discoursing even in one line 

 of the " unknown tongue," let us anglicise 

 Virgil's thought, and lament with him at the 

 "departure (or rather "flight") of holy 

 simplicity from our fields and hedge-rows." 



" Honi soit qui mal y pense I " 



say we. Oh, that we could return to the 

 " innocence of our first estate !" We blush 

 for the world we inhabit. But let us to the 

 garden, whilst its beauty lasts. We have, 

 in a former paper, noticed the roses. They 

 deserved and obtained a separate notice. 



"Tis now that the flaring peony (we have 

 in our garden some of the most beautiful of 

 their kind) throws up its splendid globes of 

 crimson and blush color, from out its rich 

 dome-like pavilion of dark leaves. We 

 daily observe, too, the elegant yet exotic- 

 looking family of the amaranths putting on 

 their fantastical attire of fans, feathers, and 

 fringes ; and in a few clays, we hope to gaze 

 on that most lovely and pathetic little inno- 

 cent, " Love-lies-bleeding." 



Then again let us behold the Balsams. How 

 these delicate creatures rejoice in the air 

 which is allowed to blow upon them ! Like 

 too tender maidens, they have been sighing 

 for this, ever since they came into bloom ; not 

 considering, in their innocence, that one rude 

 breath of air would have blown them into 

 their graves. 



The Fuchsia next claims our attention. 

 That most exquisitely-formed of all our 

 flowers, native or exotic, is no longer confined 



like an invalid to a fixed temperature, but it 

 is permitted to mix with its more hardy 

 brethren in the open air. 



Now do the whole tribe of Geraniums " get 

 leave of absence from their Winter barracks," 

 and are allowed to keep guard on each side 

 of the hall door, in their gay regimentals of 

 scarlet and crimson ; carefully and neatly 

 arranged " each under each." But we must 

 be brief with the rest. 



See where the favorite family of the Pinks 

 shoot up their hundred-leaved heads from 

 out their low, ground-loving clump of frosty- 

 looking leaves. They seem in such haste 

 to scatter abroad their load of sweetness, 

 that they break down the polished sides of 

 the pretty green vase in Avhieh they are set ; 

 and hang about it like the tresses of a 

 school girl on the afternoon of dancing-clay. 



Now, Sweet Williams (let us rejoice that 

 our name is "' William ! ") lift up their bold 

 but handsome feces right against the meri- 

 dian sun, disdaining to shrink or bend 

 beneath his most ardent gaze. Hence their 

 claim to 'the name of " William " — a " Con- 

 quering" name, that has ever carried and 

 ever will carry all before it ! 



Now the Columbine dances a pas-seid to 

 the music of the breeze. It is her " first 

 appearance this season," and she performs 

 her part to admiration, notwithstanding her 

 harlequin husband, fritillary, has not been 

 heard of for the last month. The yellow 

 globe flower now flings up its balls of gold 

 into the air ; and the modest little Virginia 

 stock scatters its rubies and sapphires, and 

 pearls, purposely upon the ground. Lupins 

 too, are "looking up." They spread their 

 wings for flight, but cannot for very fond- 

 ness escape from the handsome leaves over 

 which they seem hovering. 



We must on no account take our leave of 

 the garden, before introducing our much- 

 loved, innocent friend Mignonette. She is 

 now making good her pretty name, which 

 all must admire " in whom dwells soul." 



Au rede, the princely poppy, and starry 

 marigold, the innocent little wild pansy, the 

 pretty pimpernel, and the dear little blue 

 germander — these will spring up, unasked, 

 all over the garden ; and can any of us find, 

 it in our hearts to treat them as "weeds? " 



Modern Marriages. — Most of our modern 

 marriages are contracted in the ledger, and con- 

 cluded according to the weight of the cash-box; 

 some are estimated by the height, length, and 

 breadth of the family pedigree, or b.y rank and 

 station in life; others again have their origin in 

 blind sensuality, wherein, intoxicated by passion, 

 each idolises the other; but when sober, discovers 

 that a fiend prompted the worship. Then is 

 " married life, harried life," and the anticipated 

 endless spring proves perpetual winter.— From a 

 little volume called " Labor stands on Golden 

 Feet." 



