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ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 
APRIL AND MAY. 
B IRDS on the boughs before the buds 
Begin to burst in the spring, 
Bending their heads to the April floods, 
Too much out of breath to sing! 
They chirp, “ Hey-day ! How the rain comes down ! 
Comrades cuddle together! 
Cling to the bark so rough and brown, 
For this is April weather. 
“ Oh, the warm, beautiful, drenching rain ! 
I don’t mind it, do you ? 
Soon will the sky be clear again, 
Smiling and fresh, and blue. 
“ Sweet and sparkling is every drop 
That slides from the soft, gray clouds ; 
Blossoms will blush to the very top 
Of the bare old trees in crowds. 
“ Oh, the warm, delicious, hopeful rain ! 
Let us be glad together, 
Summer comes flying in beauty again, 
Through the fitful April weather.” 
Skies are glowing in gold a„d blue, 
What did the briar bird say? 
Plenty of sunshine to come, they knew, . 
In the pleasant month of May ! 
She calls a breeze from the south to blow 
And breathe on the boughs so bare, 
And straight, they are laden with rosy snow 
And there’s honey and spice in the air 
Oh, the glad green leaves ! Oh, the happy wind ! 
Oh, delicate fragrance and balm ! 
Storm and tumult are left behind 
In a rapture of golden calm. 
From dewy morning to starry night 
The birds sing sweet and strong, 
That the radiant sky is filled with light, 
That the days are fair and long. 
That the bees are drowsy about the hive, 
Earth is so warm and gay ! 
And ’tis joy enough to be alive 
In the heavenly month of May. 
Celia Thaxter. 
