Green Hellebore. _Helleborus viridis._
Dedicated to _St. Adrian_.
~March 6.~
_St. Chrodegang_, Bishop, A. D. 766. _B. Colette._ _St. Fridolin_, A.
D. 538. _St. Baldrede._ _Sts. Kyneburge_, _Kyneswid_, and _Tibba_.
_St. Cadroe_, A. D. 975.
_St. Baldrede_,
Bishop of Glasgow, died in London A. D. 608, and his relics were famous
in many churches in Scotland. Bollandus says, “he was wonderfully buried
in three places; seeing that three towns Aldham, Tinningham, and
Preston, contended for his body.” In those days when there were no
parish registers, these miraculous powers of self-multiplication after
death, must have been sadly perplexing to topographers and antiquaries.
[Illustration: ~Spring.~]
The “New-come” of the year is born to-day,
With a strong lusty laugh, and joyous shout,
Uprising, with its mother, it, in play,
Throws flowers on her; pulls hard buds about,
To open them for blossom; and its voice,
Peeling o’er dells, plains, uplands, and high groves,
Startles all living things, till they rejoice
In re-creation of themselves; each loves,
And blesses each; and man’s intelligence,
In musings grateful, thanks All Wise Beneficence.
SPRING commences on the 6th of March, and lasts ninety-three days.
According to Mr. Howard, whose practical information concerning the
seasons is highly valuable, the medium temperature during spring is
elevated, in round numbers, from 40 to 58 degrees. “The mean of the
season is 48.94°--the sun effecting by his approach an advance of 11.18°
upon the mean temperature of the winter. This increase is retarded in
the forepart of the spring by the winds from north to east, then
prevalent; and which form two-thirds of the complement of the season;
but proportionately accelerated afterwards by the southerly winds, with
which it terminates. A strong evaporation, in the first instance
followed by showers, often with thunder and hail in the latter,
characterises this period. The temperature commonly rises, not by a
steady increase from day to day, but by sudden starts, from the breaking
in of sunshine upon previous cold, cloudy weather. At such times, the
vapour appears to be now and then thrown up, in too great plenty, into
the cold region above; where being suddenly decomposed, the temperature
falls back for awhile, amidst wind, showers, and hail, attended, in some
instances, with frost at night.”
Our ancestors varied their clothing according to the season. Strutt has
given the spring dress of a man in the fourteenth century, from an
illumination in a manuscript of that age: this is a copy of it.
[Illustration]
In “_Sylvan Sketches_,” a new and charming volume by the lady who wrote
the “Flora Domestica,” it is delightfully observed, that, “the young and
joyous spirit of spring sheds its sweet influence upon every thing: the
streams sparkle and ripple in the noon-day sun, and the birds carol
tipseyly their merriest ditties. It is surely the loveliest season of
the year.” One of our living minstrels sings of a spring day, that it
Looks beautiful, as when an infant wakes
From its soft slumbers;
and the same bard poetically reminds us with more than poetical truth,
that at this season, when we
See life and bliss around us flowing,
Wherever space or being is,
The cup of joy is full and flowing.
_Bowring._
Another, whose numbers are choralled by worshipping crowds, observes
with equal truth, and under the influence of high feelings, for
seasonable abundance, that
To enjoy is to obey.
_Watts._
* * * * *
Grateful and salutary spring the plants
Which crown our numerous gardens, and
Invite to health and temperance, in the simple meal,
Unpoisoned with rich sauces, to provoke
Th’ unwilling appetite to gluttony.
For this, the bulbous esculents their roots
With sweetness fill; for this, with cooling juice
The green herb spreads its leaves; and opening buds,
And flowers and seeds, with various flavours.
_Dodsley._
* * * * *
Sweet is thy coming, Spring!--and as I pass
Thy hedge-rows, where from the half-naked spray
Peeps the sweet bud, and ’midst the dewy grass
The tufted primrose opens to the day:
My spirits light and pure confess thy pow’r
Of balmiest influence: there is not a tree
That whispers to the warm noon-breeze; nor flow’r
Whose bell the dew-drop holds, but yields to me
Predestinings of joy: O, heavenly sweet
Illusion!--that the sadly pensive breast
Can for a moment from itself retreat
To outward pleasantness, and be at rest:
While sun, and fields, and air, the sense have wrought
Of pleasure and content, in spite of thought!
_Athenæum._
* * * * *
In spring the ancient Romans celebrated the _Ludi Florales_. These were
annual games in honour to Flora, accompanied by supplications for
beneficent influences on the grass, trees, flowers, and other products
of the earth, during the year. The Greeks likewise invoked fertility on
the coming of spring with many ceremonies. The remains of the Roman
festivals, in countries which the Roman arms subdued, have been
frequently noticed already; and it is not purposed to advert to them
further, than by observing that there is considerable difficulty in so
apportioning every usage in a modern ceremony, as to assign each to its
proper origin. Some may have been common to a people before they were
conquered; others may have been the growth of later times. Spring, as
the commencement of the natural year, must have been hailed by all
nations with satisfaction; and was, undoubtedly, commemorated, in most,
by public rejoicing and popular sports.