April is a great deal richer in flowers than March was."

And then the poplar, the willow, and the hazel are in bloom; the walnut and chestnut burst into leaf, and the black thorn and the apple tree into flower; while, in the garden, plum-trees, cherry-trees, and spurge laurel add their bloom to the other trees which are in blossom. Spring

seems to cry out,

'Here I am, though long in coming :

Hark, the little bee is humming;
See the lark is soaring high
In the bright and sunny sky;
And the gnats are on the wing:
I am come-my name is Spring!

'See the yellow catkins cover
All the slender willows over;
And on mossy banks so green
Starlike primroses are seen;
Butterflies are on the wing:

I am come-my name is Spring.""

"There is no doubt that spring is come in April, and every thing does seem to have bid farewell to the winter."

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Young ducks are hatched in the duck-pen; the moles throw up the earth, to get at worms and insects, for they now have young ones in their nests; the pole-cat, the martin, and the fox suckle their young. Woe to the farmer's hen

roost, if it is not well secured against sly reynard's attacks. Frogs and toads begin to spawn; dif

the copper

ferent kinds of beetles creep forth; butterfly, the early cabbage butterfly, and the emperor moth, expand their wings; and unnumbered insects seem to leap into life, and to add to the general animation."

66

"I told you that the willows were still in bloom. The weeping willow is a beautiful looking tree, as you know. There is one yonder, bending over the pool."

"Yes, the willow is a favourite tree of mine."

'The willow boughs are downward spread,
Low bending o'er the watery bed:

Hast thou no cause to hang thy head?
To mourn that earth thy spirit wins,
And sigh in sorrow for thy sins?

The willow, through the summer days,
Exults in shining silvery sprays:
Where are thy cheerful songs of praise,
To manifest, for favours given,

Thy boundless gratitude to Heaven?'

If, Maurice, we could learn a lesson from everything, and turn everything, as the willow tree is here turned, to advantage, whether we looked about us in the country in spring, summer, autumn, or winter, it would not matter, for we should always find enough to profit by. Our hearts ought to be like evergreens, putting forth leaves of thankfulness in winter as well as in summer. But you have now had enough about April."

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Oh, I could listen an hour longer, Michael."

May be so; but I have something else now to attend to. Try to profit by what I have said, and then the pleasures of your youth may afford you enjoyment in old age. God is very merciful in not limiting our pleasures to the moment when we enjoy them; but he enables us to live

MAURICE had been too well pleased with Michael's account of the country in April, not to be anxious to hear something about May: he failed not, therefore, to join the old gardener when at his labour on the following day, to ask him to continue his account.

'Willingly, willingly," replied Michael: "you can help me a little in sorting out these seeds, for they are sadly mingled together, and I will talk with you the while."

"Ay, that will be the very thing."