70 LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
Come, let us go while we are in our prime, 
And take the harmless folly of the time. 
Shakspeare notices with what eagerness the plea- 
sures of May-day morning were pursued in his 
time : — 
'Tis as much impossible, 
Unless we swept them from the door with cannons, 
To scatter 'em as 'tis to make 'em sleep 
On May -day morning. 
The May-day diversions and May-poles were 
not confined to the country. In London there were 
anciently several May-poles, the last of which, near 
Somerset House, in the Strand, was not taken down 
till the year 1717. 
In the scarlet berries of the Hawthorn, which are 
called haws, Providence has furnished an abundant 
supply of food for the small birds during winter : 
and it is a current notion that " store of haws portend 
cold winters." So says Lord Bacon, and no doubt 
experience might often be found to confirm the 
observation. 
A beautiful variety of this tree, with double red 
blossom of extraordinary fragrance, is cultivated in 
our gardens. 
