APRIL SHOWERS.— THE SWALLOWS. 
45 
Friday, 2\st. — Fresli lettuce from the hot-beds. 
Saturday, 22c?. — The sky cloudy, with April showers, but we 
ventured to take a short walk. There were never more brown 
flowers on the elms ; it is unusual to se*e them in such very great 
abundance ; the trees are thickly clothed with them. The soft 
maple is also showing its crimson blossoms. The grass is grow- 
ing beautifully ; there is a perceptible difference from day to day, 
and it is pleasant to note how the cattle enjoy the fresh, tender 
herbage of the pastures after the dry fodder of the barn-yard. 
We followed the Green Brook through the fields into the woods ; 
on its banks gathered some pretty pink bells of the spring beauty. 
The barn swallows have made their appearance, and the flocks 
of the white-billed swallows seem to have increased by new ar- 
rivals. 
Monday, 24:th. — The young leaves on the lilacs, currents, and 
some early roses and honeysuckles, are springing — the first 
branches to look green. In the woods the young violet and 
strawberry leaves look fresh and tender among the withered 
herbage, and the older evergreens. 
Tuesday, 25th. — Charming day. Went into the woods this 
afternoon to gather a harvest of trailing arbutus. It takes many 
to make a pretty bunch, for the leaves are large and often in the 
way, so that one is obliged to use the scissors freely when mak- 
ing them into a nosegay. The plant stretches its vine-like, woody 
branches far and wide over the hill-sides in thick patches ; its large, 
strong, rounded leaves grow in close tufts — small and large together 
— and, although tough, in texture, they are often defective in rusty 
spots, especially the old leaves which have been lying under the 
snow; in summer, they are brighter and more perfect. The 
