By the RtfV. A. C. Smith. 47 



And again : — 



M A January spring 

 Is worth nothing." 



M December's frost and January's flood 

 Never boded the husbandman good." 



For February, we have : — 



" Of all the months in the year, 

 Curse a fair Februeer." 



This is strong 1 language; but even this is preferable to the un- 

 dutitul saying attributed to the inhabitants of Wales, who repeat : — 



u The Welshman would rather see his mother on the bier, 

 Than see a fair Februeer." 



The month of March again, or the " Marchen month," as it it 

 often called in Wiltshire, is acknowledged as a spring month ; and 

 we repeat the saying, which endorses its spring character : — 



" Saint Matthie * 

 Sends sap into the tree." 



And the French express in another form the same sentiment :— 



" Saint Matthias 

 Casse les glaces." 



But yet no month in the year is so little trusted, and looked upon 

 with such suspicion and misgiving as this : indeed all the proverbs 



•* In January should sun sppear, 

 March and April pay full dear." 



" If January Kalends be summerly gay 

 'Twill be winterly weather to the Kalends of May.' 



" The blackest month in all the year, 

 Is the month of Janiveer." 



And in France ;— 



" Si les mouches dansent en Janvier 

 Le cultivateur devra s'inquieter de ses fourrages;' 



That is ;— 



When you see midges in January, 

 Treasure up every bit of forage." 



To the same effect in Germany : — 



" Tanzen in Januar die Mucken 

 Muss der Bauer nach dem Futter gucken." 



* Now February 24tk, but O.S. March 8th. 



