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THE SALLOW AND ALDER.

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Adam now showed his mother what flowers they had found, coming home. "This branch," said she, "with its soft pretty tufts like velvet, is the sallow. Children call it palm and goslings; and in some parts of the country the people will adorn the churches with it next Sunday, which will be Palm Sunday; so called because on that day Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on an ass, when the people collected branches of palm and strewed the road before him. This, however, is not the same tree, but is only so called in this country. Here comes your father. I dare say, if you ask him, he will tell you to what use the sallow is turned." Mr. Stock then told him that the wood made good fuel; also excellent charcoal for gunpowder and drawing-pencils. That the turners also use it for making trap and cricket bats, and other articles; and of the smaller boughs hurdles are made. And that some people make use of the bark in tanning. He likewise informed him, that, on account of its flowering so early, it formed a welcome store to the industrious bee. “ "And what else have you brought ?" said Mrs. Stock. Mary showed nearly a handful of violets and primroses. "We are now come to the end of the month," said Mr. Stock, "and do but notice, Adam, how the flowers have increased upon us. There is the sallow, whose uses I have just described to you; then there is the ALDER, which is now in blossom. This tree flourishes best in marshy situations. The branches are cut down to make poles, and the trunks are used for water-pipes, and for other purposes, in which the wood is to be kept constantly wet. It is also used in making shoe-heels and clogs. The fishermen dye their nets brown with the bark; and, if copperas be added the dye, it becomes a black.

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"About this time, also, the YEW comes into blosThis tree is now seldom to be seen but in very old church-yards, and it always appears as if it had been planted when the church itself was built. Its color is very sad; and, perhaps, that is one reason why it was usually chosen for that spot. I have heard that it was likewise planted there to furnish the inhabitants of the parish with its tough branches for their bows; you have heard that it was the wood best fitted for that purpose, and I think are not likely to forget it, for you have more than once reminded some one of his promise to take you over to that famous tree in Woodland's church-yard, and assist you in cutting a branch of it for your crossbow. A yew-hedge in a garden is almost as good a fence as a wall; but it is seldom planted now, both because of the slowness of its growth, and because its leaves have been known to poison cows or horses that chanced to eat its clippings. Its wood is a fine red color, and richly veined; therefore much valued by cabinet-makers for inlaying their furniture. It is also serviceable for axles and cogs of mill-wheels, for floodgates to fish-ponds, and other works where strength and durability are required.

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"Well, then, there is the almond-tree; the cornelian cherry; the larch; laurustinus; laurel; the Portugal, and spurge-laurel, also called the Daphne; the mannaash; mezereon, a lovely shrub; peach, as lovely; Spanish traveller's joy, and sea buckthorn. Among flowers, we have a noble catalogue: hyacinths, with their elegantly curled blossoms and fragrant scent; wall-flowers, that will grow anywhere, and are always grateful and cheering; the violet, which should have some heavenly name given to it, because it is so

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FLOWERS OF MARCH.

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exquisite, and yet makes so little show of its excelThen there is the hepatica, blue, red, and white; fritillary; dog's-tooth violet; great snow-drop; scarlet ranunculus; daisy, 'lovely on both sides;' the delicate-scented 'pale primrose; brisk daffodil; cyclamen; polyanthus, with its wonderful and rich varieties of color; the stately crown-imperial; our old friend the crocus, still; pilewort; periwinkle; pansy; auricula, which looks like embroidered velvet; Persian iris; alysson; anemone; and the graceful and richlyscented narcissus. So, you perceive, Adam, that owing to the showers of rain, the sun, and the wind, you have reason to admire the rough, but healthy month of MARCH."

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CHAPTER IV.

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APRIL.

"Fled now the sullen murmurs of the north,
The splendid raiment of the Spring peeps forth
Her universal green, and the clear sky,
Delight still more and more the gazing eye.
Wide o'er the fields in rising moisture strong,
Shoots up the simple flower, or creeps along

The mellow'd soil."-Bloomfield's Farmer's Boy.

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I SUPPOSE, Adam," said Mr. Stock, as we have the month of APRIL come to us, you will wish to know the meaning of its name. Like the names of all the other months, the word is Latin, Aprilis, and signifies that which opens, from aperire, to open; because in this month the earth begins to open her bosom, and give us the summer flowers and vegetables. This is generally a beautiful month, on account of the sweet variety in the weather; the frequent soft rains, and the bright and warm shining of the sun. March and April might be called brother and sister, because they are very much alike. March is rude, rough, and boisterous; he seems to delight in high winds, dark clouds, and rain-storms: with beautiful gleams of sunshine between; like the kind actions which some noisy and violent brothers delight to show, in the midst of their

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rudest and most tiresome behavior, to their sisters. April sports in lighter gales; clouds of majestic and lovely forms; short and merry showers of rain; with a warm sun, perhaps, shining all the time. March is full of variety, but he is almost always rough and violent. April is not less various; but, like a kind and gentle sister, whatever she does, it is done with a merry, smiling, and pleasant face. I dare say you remember that this is called 'April fool-day,' Adam. Have you not often been made a fool of, at school, on the 1st of April ?" "Yes," said Adam; “and I once played a boy such a trick! I told him he was to go and put on his best clothes, because his father and mother were coming to see him. It was not a story, you know, because I did not say when they were coming. But when he found out that it was the 1st of April, and that I had made a fool of him, he gave me such a thumping! "Then he was a double fool," said his father, "because that showed that he was very much disappointed and vexed: the way would have been for him to have taken no notice when he found out the trick; then he would have spoiled your joke, and not been a fool." "He was older and bigger than I," said Adam," or else he should not have thumped me." "I dare say he was a great cowardly booby," said his father. "I am pleased to hear you talk So, Adam. Both now that you are a little boy, and when you come to be a man, never yield to tyranny, if you can help it. At the same time, never tyrannize over others. Do not be the first to quarrel; and do not be the last to make it up. Yet I must add that you deserved your thumping, though the boy was a coward to beat you; for you should have considered that you would not have liked to be told that your mamma and I had come to

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