136 THE ASSOCIATIONS OF FLOWERS 
CHAPTER XIIL 
liawthorn — WLonth of May — Love of Flowers — May -day 
— Ancient Ceremonies of this Fay — Fink liawthorn — - 
Universality of Liawthorn Tree — Glastonbury Thorn 
—Beauty . of Fruit Blossoms — Rose — Potentilla — Herb 
Bennet — Fruits — Mountain Ash — Mountain Ash plant- 
ed by Druids — Ancient Superstitions connected with the 
Tree. 
'' Farewell to thee, April, a gentle farewell. 
Thou hast saved the young rose in its emerald cell; 
Sweet nurse, thou hast mingled thy sunshine and 
showers, 
Like kisses and tears, on thy children the flowers. 
As a hope when fulfill’d to sweet memory turns, 
We shall think of thv clouds as the odorous urns 
Whence colour and freshness and fragrance were 
wept ; 
We shall think of thy rainbows, their promise is 
kept ; 
There is not a cloud on the morning’s blue way, 
And the daylight is waddng the first of the May.” 
—L. F. L. 
Hovv^ gladly does the lover of nature welcome May, with 
its profusion of leaves and flowers, and its gay and soft 
tints, and. gentle breezes. Perhaps there is not a human 
being by whom, at some period or other, the love of nature 
has not been felt. We commence life with it. In child- 
hood, the fields, the copses, the flowers, the birds and 
lambs — all the features of the country scene animate and 
cheer us; the violet is a treasure, the flowering hawthorn 
a delight. Too often as w^e advance in life, compelled 
to spend our days far aw^ay from rural scenes, and no 
