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Many a jest told of the Key’s betraying 
This night, and locks picked ; yet we’re not a-Maying. 
Come, let us go while we are in our prime, 
And take the harmless folly of the time. 
Shakspeare notices with what eagerness the 
pleasures 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 cul- 
tivated in our gardens. 
eS acest cat ncatie = A lartn «bese mame stn» ley + 2 aia 
