And then the humble violet with its fragrance

And purple blush, on which the sweet south breathes
Stealing and giving odour-then spotted cowslips
Gilding the meads, by eager children cropt.

1

Indeed the period of hope and gladness has again burst forth, and cold must that heart be which does not enjoy the cheering influence of the season. It delights me the more, because I have always endeavoured to let no object of interest escape my observation during my walks in the country, especially in the early spring. And what an early one this has been! Violets and primroses in blossom at the end of February, and apricots early in March. The country was white with the snowy bloom of plums and even pears at the same period; the meadows verdant with superabundant grass, while many birds were building their nests, and singing with all the hilarity of a soft May morning. Nor must the rooks be unnoticed. These birds, many weeks before their usual time of making and repairing their nests, might be seen busily employed in this task of love, and before the showers of April commenced they had young ones. And here I may with some propriety introduce another translation from the Greek of Athenæus by the same friend to whom I am indebted for the preceding ones.

THE CROW SONG,

From Athenæi Deipnosoph: Lib. VIII. c. 59.

̓Εσθλοί, κορώνη χεῖρα &c.

"I remember Phoenix of Colophon, the Iambic poet, makes mention of the custom of persons collecting money for the Crow,' and his words are these;"

Good people, a handful of barley bestow

Upon the lov'd child of Apollo-the Crow.

A small halfpenny loaf-what you have in your hand;-
We don't in such cases on nicety stand.

A small basket of salt we'll accept ·

-

for you know

There are few things that come much amiss to the Crow.
Who gives little to day, will in time give us more,

By-and-bye, we shall have of rich honey a store.

Come open your doors - Plutus hears

as I stand

I see a fair girl with ripe figs in her hand;
Oh heaven reward her! and keep her from harm!
May she soon have a husband, a house, and a farm.
And as Time advances, her old man to please,
May he find a young boy to caress on his knees,
And a sweet little girl-Ah! I see! on my life
Some one of her cousins, will ask her for wife.
But I, the mean while, thro' the country must go,
At the door of each house asking alms for the Crow;
Some give me a trifle, and some too refuse

But on each I bestow a few notes of my muse.

Sir, I know you're well off! then to give don't be loth,

Good Sir! and sweet Madam!

I ask of you both.

Its a custom a law which you very well know-
Then give heart and hand; freely give― to the Crow.

It is to be regretted that a translation of the Collectanea of Athenæus has not been published, as his work contains many very curious and interesting details of ancient Greek customs. It is entitled "The Deipnosophists, or Table Talk of the Sophists," and was first printed by Aldus in 1514. Athenæus wrote in the third century. I shall be excused for giving an imitation of one of the fragments in his work by the same friend who sent me the foregoing verses.

FRAGMENTUM STESICHORI LYRICI.

πoλλà μèv кvdwvia &c. (Imitated.)

HELEN.

Roll'd the refulgent car along

Bearing the fair bride of the Spartan king;
Who in her radiant beauty like a star

Or earth-born Venus shone afar :
And see with dance and choral song,

Mycena's dark-hair'd daughters bring

-

Their choicest gifts — and golden quinces throw

In her chaste lap, and boughs of myrtle bloom

Odorous, and white as snow,

And roses on Eurota's banks that blow,
And violet showers, the earliest of the spring
To break the winter's gloom;
Beautiful Helen! in thy queenly pride

To thee we bow-great Menelaus' bride;
With downcast eyes, and bended knee,

Sweets to the sweet- we offer these to thee.

HIS ONLY CHILD.

A VILLAGE STORY.

Virtues like these at once delight and press
On the fond father with a proud distress;
On all around he looks with care and love,
Grieved to behold, but happy to approve.

CRABBE.

THOSE who are in the habit of conversing much with the farmers and peasantry of their own neighbourhood, especially in the more retired rural districts, will seldom fail of obtaining not only much useful information, but also of hearing little facts and circumstances of village life which are neither devoid of interest or instruction. These anecdotes are always, in my opinion, much more pleasing than any stories of fictitious events, however well related. Truth and reality will, indeed, always have an advantage over romance. At all events I hope that this will be the case in the following narrative, which I collected from various sources, and which interested me much at