20 
INTRODUCTION. 
ful reminiscences of our childhood — bring¬ 
ing hack to us the pleasures of “by-past time,” 
in remembrance and' reality, May-day must 
not he forgotten. 
Hail! thou of ever-circling time, 
That gracest still the ceaseless flow ! 
Bright blossoms of the season’s prime, 
Aye hastening on to winter’s snow ! 
Hail! thou, the fleet year’s pride and prime! 
Hail! day, which fame should bid to bloom! 
Hail [ image of a primeval time ! 
Hail! sample of a world to come ! 
LANGHOKNE. 
“The flowery month of May,” says Pea- 
cham, “ must be drawn as a youth, with a 
sweet and amiable countenance, clad in a robe 
of white and green, embroidered with daffo¬ 
dils, hawthorns, and blue bottles; upon his 
head a garland of white, damask, and red 
roses; in one hand a lute; upon the fore¬ 
finger of the other a nightingale; and the 
sign Gemini in the back-ground.” 
