THE BROOK 
On, sweet and still around the hill 
Thy stiver waters, Rroek, are creeping; 
Beneath tho hill as sweet and still 
Thy weary friend lies Bleeping. 
A laurel leaf Is in his hair, 
His eyes are closed to human seeming, 
And surely he has dreams most fair. 
If he indeed be dreaming. 
O Brook, ho smiled, a happy child, 
Upon thy hanks, and loved thy crying. 
And, as time flew, thy murmur grew 
A trouble purifying; 
Till last, thy laurel leaf he took, 
I)renm*eyed and tearful, like a woman, 
And turned thy haunting cry. O Brook, 
To speech divine and human. 
O Brook 1 In song full sweet and strong 
Jle sang of then ho loved so dearly ; 
Then softly creep niouml his sleep, 
And murmur to him choorly; 
For though ho knows no fret nor fear. 
Though life no more slips st rangely through him 
Yet ho may sleep more sound to hear 
fils friend so close unto him. 
WHY I SING, 
I sing because I love to sing. 
Because instinctive fancies move; 
Because it hurts no earthly thing. 
Because it pleases some l iove. 
Because it cheats night’s weary hours. 
Because It cheers the brightest day; 
Because, like prayer and lightest flowers, 
It helps me on my heavenly way. 
Because with peals of happy word3 
I would exorcise morbid care; 
Because a touch of deeper chords 
May tune a heart to love and prnyer 
Because all sounds of human fate 
Within my heart an echo find; 
Because whatoVr is good or great 
J,ets loose the music of my mind. 
Because above the changing skies 
The spirit, saitli good angels sing; 
Because wherever sunlight lies 
Tho woods and waves with music ring. 
And when nt Inst tho sleepers east 
Their swathes aside, and, wondering, waken, 
Let thy friend he full lendeiiio 
In sliver arms uplakon. 
Him bo it then thy task to hear 
Up to the Footstool, sortly flowing— 
Smiles on his eyes, and In ills hair 
Thy leaf of laurel blowing ! 
| Robert. Buchanan 
Because umid earth'*- Babel noise 
All happy things that go or come. 
Give to their grateful hearts a voiee- 
Then why should f alone be dumb? 
MAY PROVERBS, 
fonts for 
May,— the “ merry month of May —is at 
last fairly upon us, with all its beauties and 
accompanying pleasures, and nearly all the 
people of Europe and America join in the 
aong of welcome t o the much-praised month. 
Allegro qm Mqju<— U Bright as May,” the in¬ 
habitants of the island of Sardinia are accus¬ 
tomed to say to those whose faces beam with 
gladness, and the Lombardians say: “ May 
is the most beautiful month in the year!” an 
expression which is about equal to the one 
which we have placed in the first line of our 
article,—the “ merry, merry month of May,” 
as our English cousins are wont to say. 
But it must not be supposed that even all 
the European peoples welcome this beautiful 
month with unalloyed joy. The Russian 
docs not yet believe in May as the real har¬ 
binger of summer, but says, as he shakes his 
head, ‘‘Ay, ay, Mr. May; warm but hun¬ 
gry,” and hugs his fur coat closely around 
hint until at last Whitsuntide lias gone by. 
Even the Venetian peasant is somewhat 
dubious, and says, “ An eager May, a long 
month,” because it is then that the price of 
corn usually advances, and the poor have ex¬ 
hausted their winter’s stock of provisions. 
For this reason the Portuguese advise: 
“ Summer com, cut it not nor give away. 
But save it for the mouth of May,” 
adding, “ May cats the wheat, and August 
drinks the wine,” as the latter just precedes 
the vintage, the former the harvest. 
The state of the weather in May forms the 
basis for predicting the future crops, for, say 
the French;—“ In May the corn and wine 
are horn,” and other countries have the same 
expression in a ditferent. form. The peasant 
of Northern Germany says:— “ May cool 
and wet, tills the peasant’s barn and vat.” 
The people of the Palatinate say:—“ Eve¬ 
ning dew and cool in May bringeth wine 
and much of hay.” The Tyrolese say:— 
“ Cool May, frill barns,” or “ Cool May brings 
straw and hay,” while the Englishman says: 
“ Mav-rnouth «(d<1 ami windy. 
Makes the sheaves full and plenty.” 
The French people, however, have quite a 
different opinion about a cool May, and say 
that “ A cold May makes no man rich.” 
The Upper-Ttalians say, again:— “ May cool, 
straw and corn,” and “ May windy and cool 
makes the year fruitfulThe Pieardians 
DESTINED TO ILL LUCK? 
THE ART OF 1 AVJGAVING-THE LOOM IN INDIA, 
A STORY THAT OUGHT NOT TO BE TRUE 
two bamboo rollers,—one for the warp and 
another for the woven cloth,—with heddles 
for parting the warp, to permit the weft to 
be drawn through, and a single shuttle, rod. 
This, sometimes put up in a stationary man¬ 
ner in-doors, is often so arranged that the 
native carries it, with his water-pitcher, rice 
pot and hooka, to t he foot of any tree which 
will afford a comfortable shade, where, with 
warp extended by fastening the rollers at a 
proper distance apart, and heddles attached 
to a convenient branch of the tree overhead, 
lie inserts his great toes into two loops under 
the gear, to serve tor treddles, and produces 
silks of almost unrivaled beauty. 
ally of linen, evenly spun and bleached 
■white; and in even the oldest of these the tex¬ 
ture is excellent. Weaving was also prac¬ 
ticed in Greece, in very early times, as 
domestic, employment and as a distinct 
trade. It was there capable of bet ter things 
than Egypt knew, as various accounts show 
that the Greeks fabricated twilled goods; 
and their damasks, shawls and tapestries 
would doubtless rival many of the produc¬ 
tions of the present day. 
In India, the loom is seen in its most primi¬ 
tive form, having remained unchanged from 
time immemorial. As shown in the illustra¬ 
tion given herewith, it consists really of but 
The art. of weaving dates back to the 
earliest civilization, and to it attaches a great 
degree of interest. In its inception it was 
only equal to the production of mats, and 
similar articles, which were formed by the 
interlacing of unprepared fibrous substances; 
then there were steps forward in the. prep¬ 
aration of material, and a different class of 
productions was the result,—silks and linens, 
woven by aid of simple machinery. The 
Egyptian looms, as depicted on tombs at 
Thebes and elsewhere, were, of the simplest 
construction, yet, they produced fabrics of 
fine and costly character. Specimens of their 
work are found in the mummy cloths, usu- 
BY A. A. HOPKINS. 
[Concluded from page KU, last number.] 
CHAPTER V. 
A ftf.r that series of brilliant Union suc¬ 
cesses down the Mississippi, Gen. ITaitler 
and Col. Flint received leave of absence for 
a month. Both needed the respite. They 
had labored unremittingly in their respect¬ 
ive commands, and the health of each was 
impaired. 
Flint determined to visit New England, 
to see the old scenes again, and—what more? 
This he could only question; his heart dare 
not attempt an answer. lie made known 
his intention to the General, sitting in the 
latter’s tent. They had seen much of each 
other; had come to regard each other with a 
real affection. And yet, as is often the rase 
between most intimate fViends, they held 
hopes and remembrances nearest their hearts 
of which they never spoke. Each had a 
Past,— Flint saw shadows of a sad and 
troublous one flitting at times over Ins friend’s 
face; and the younger had of late hoped for 
a Future, a glad time, full of sweet content 
and a loving, noble woman’s presence. 
He, had not learned the General’s history, 
except a few fragments, common knowledge 
to all in the regiment. A man without fami¬ 
ly, possessing wide acres in the West, re¬ 
spected and beloved by all who knew him,— 
this was the extent. Personal acquaintance 
had revealed a quiet, deep nature; warm, 
Christian kindliness of manner, touched by a 
tenderness almost sad, at times; tine abilities 
as a commander, and undoubted bravery. 
“ To New England ?” the General ccho- 
ingly interrogated, when Flint slated his 
purpose. “What part, pray? The moun¬ 
tains?” 
“ Perhaps—yes. To Holmdell, any way. 
I want to see that familiar country again,— 
was born near there, you know.” 
Now the General didn’t know any such 
thing. Reticent, from his old lmbit, more 
than from present reserve, Flint had never 
mentioned this fact before. It seemed to 
surprise the elder gentleman somewhat. 
over as yet, for he says of Ascension Day: 
11 Until thpDayof OuIIIpc. 
I do not change my toggery." 
The Spaniard also assents to this, and says: 
“ Lay not your winter fur away until the 
Galilean comes.” 
The Germans have the same fears about 
the weather on Ascension Day as the Italians, 
and say: 
" Ruin on AncenMon Day, 
Sure to bring bad crops of hay.” 
The people of the Palatinate, and the. 
Swabians say: 
“ /Vs tlir* wrath or Is on Asennslon Day, 
So the following Autumn may.” 
The Italians and the Tyrolese think, on 
the contrary, that “If it rain on Whitsun¬ 
tide, all the profit don’t belong to us,” and, 
“If it rain on Whit Sunday, the half of our 
food is washed away.” The rain, however, 
is considered good for the vintage, and there¬ 
fore we have the proverb ;—“ Wet. Whitsun¬ 
tide, fat Christmas; clear Whitsuntide, poor 
Christmas; ” or, 
" Whitsun’s mining, 
Rich wine blessing.” 
In many neighborhoods it is asserted that 
“ If it rain on Whit-Monday, it will rain on 
the following seven Sundays.” On the Rhine 
it is customary to say “ Ripe strawberries at 
Whitsuntide forebodes a good wine, year.” 
The French consider the. third and ninth 
days of May, which they call Crowd, (from 
Ste. Croix,) and Colinet , (ft-om 8t. Nicholas,) 
as critical days in regard to the winegrowth, 
and also say, proverbially:—“ 0 korok, (April 
24th,) Mark, (April 2.5th,) James, (May 1st,) 
and Little Citorx, (May 3d,)—these four 
make the market for wine.” They attribute to 
the rain of the eleventh of May just as much 
influence in regard to the good turn out of 
acorns as to the first of May—therefore tho 
proverb says: 
“ SMI plant If* do St. Gongoul, 
Les pores auront do glands lour soul.” 
“ If it rain on St. Genooul’s day, the swine 
will be blessed with acorns.” 
The Italians advise that on the ninth day 
of May, the, first new hay should he given, in 
the following words: 
“On St. Nicholas Day, give tho oxen the hay.” 
The Russians characterize the growth of 
the grasses with the words:—“ On George’s 
church-yard fat.” The same fear of sickness 
makes the Lombardians wish for 
” A clouded May,and tho house wnrmed through, 
Then remain the maidens healthy too." 
The Spaniards and Portuguese, however, 
consider themselves quite fortunate to have 
sickness during May, because they believe, 
“ Fever in May (Portuguese diarrhoea,) all the 
year from sickness free." 
The Spaniards, at the same time, advise 
against, taking cold, and tell you, “ Lay not 
your Sayo off in May," and the people of 
Bergamo in Italy say in a similar mood: 
” Till the fortieth of May, 
Lay not your winter clothes away.” 
And the Venetians even address to this 
month the words:—“ May, lovely May, to 
thee thy roses, but. to me my fur.” The 
Spaniards have the rule for agriculture in 
May, that in this month cheese and fallow 
must be made. The people of Upper Italy 
give a similar command, and say: — “In 
May provide you wood and cheese,” and 
add the hint as especially necessary, “ Who¬ 
ever lias got any good stumps, he must heave 
them up in May,” for this month is very 
fickle. 
The first day of May has many curious 
proverbs attached to it. In France it is said 
that,— 
“ If with rain tin the first of May wo’ro (lucked. 
The quinces (in blossom) will all bo plucked.” 
meaning, the blossoms will be destroyed. 
Or, again, “ If James the Apostle cry, 
(meaning if it rain on tho first day of May,) 
there will be plenty of acorns;” that is, very 
few acorns will he destroyed. The Germans, 
however, are just of the opposite way of 
thinking about the weather on this import¬ 
ant day, dedicated to Saints Philip and 
James, and they say, “To Puilii* and 
James, rain promises much blessing;” and 
again, “ If hoar-frost fall on May-day, the 
fruit will ripen good.” Tho Germans also 
believe: 
" If May bring tho foliage greon, 
’Tits butter than were it earlier neou.” 
This is more especially Markish. The Ger¬ 
mans also add: 
" U on May-day lb’ crow* in th’ corn can hide, 
A Iruittul Mummer doth this fact betide,” 
and therefore say:—“ May-day a raven; St. 
John’s day a boy.” 
The people of Upper Italy consider rain 
in May as very damaging to the nut crop, 
wherefore tho Venetians assure us that “If 
it rain on Croucli-rnass day (May 3d,) the 
nuts will all be empty.” The Bcrgamese 
have just as little trust after such an event, 
and say :—“ If it rain on Santa Crus, do not 
calculate upon your nut crop." Especially, 
however, is rain on Ascension Day (May 
6th,) considered as very injurious, and so the 
proverb says: 
When rain conics on Ascension Day, 
It ceases not till forty days are ’way." 
The second line of this proverb is varied 
by the Bcrgamese, Venetians and Milanese, 
respectively, as follows: 
“ All seems beautiful, and nothing is good.” 
’■ There'll bo much straw and little seed.” 
“ There'll be but little bread.” 
Indeed, as the people of Tuscany say, 
“All will be destroyed.” 
The Venetian hardly thinks the winter 
after Bonif vs.” Yet they have a fear for 
night frosts as long as the 25th of June, when 
” fit. Unit AN (loth behove 
To hug his mother away from the stove;” 
and this saint's festival day is considered to 
he the end of the cold nights. As a rule a 
great influence is ascribed to this day, and 
“On St. Urban the corn is neither sped nor 
spoilt,” or, as the Palatinate proverb says, 
“Thank the Lord for St. Urban, who 
brings the kernel to the wheat.” The Ital¬ 
ians have the opinion that not only rye but 
wheat has perfectly filled husks on St. 
Urban’s day. Lombardians, therefore, say: 
“ When on fit,, Urban’s day wo’vo rain. 
Each our of corn will lose a grain. 
The Germans look upon St. Urban with 
distrust, and rain on his day is especially bad 
for tho wine, for, says the peasant, “ St. Ur¬ 
ban is a wine-hero,” and, “ Pancras and 
Urban without rain, then follows a rich 
grape harvest,” or, “ St. Urban bright and 
clear, blesses the wine vats." But if it rain 
on St. Urban's, according to the opinion of 
the wine dresser of the valley of the Meuse, 
“ the grape may become very large, but the 
vintage will he very small.” In France tho 
proverb assures: 
“ On St.. Urban, what’s in the vineyard 
belongs to the peasant,” and it, is also added, 
“ He knows not what the wine sale is, who 
does not wait till the end of May.” In South 
Germany it was earlier the custom, in order 
to secure good weather on St. Urban’s Day, 
to carry the image of the saint, solemnly 
around the village; but if it happened to 
rain of the day consecrated to his name, the 
image was thrown into the, water from spite. 
The old proverb still brings this to memory: 
" If fiuint URBAN don’t bring good weather. 
He'll surely get widl duck'd i' tho gutter.” 
But we have given enough proverbs for 
this beautiful month. Some, as will have 
been noticed, do not always do It the honor 
we are accustomed to give it in America; 
but, these old sayings and weather-proverbs 
are very interesting, in an agricultural and 
ethnological point of view, being good in¬ 
dices of the land and people, and of manners 
and customs, as influenced to some extent by 
climate. The collecting together of these 
proverbs has been zealously carried on in 
Germany, and in the foregoing wo have, had 
recourse to tho works of Baron and Baroness 
Von Reinsbeug-Dueiungfkld, who have 
made studies of a similar character their life- 
work. J. J. 
Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, May, 1869. 
