al) be."
How melodious that line!

_April_ gives a sweet strain, possibly premature--

The Birds, like Orphans, now all things invite
To come and have Melodious, sweet delight.

Like Orphans! Why? Should _Orpheus_ come in there, or are orphans
children of Orpheus? We are perplexed. The words sound alike.

_May_ like a Virgin quickly yields her Charms,
To the Embrace of Winter's Icy Arms.

It is not easy to see how that can be. Does he mean that winter had come
back and given May a late frost? And then Virgins do not, so far as I
know, yield to the Embrace of Winter's Icy Arms. Do they? I ask persons
of experience.

_June_ comes upon us heavily--

SOL's scorching Ray puts Blood in Fermentation,
And is stark raught to acts of Procreation.

That has a terrible sound. What does he mean?

_July_--

The Moon (this Month), that pale-faced Queen of Night,
Will be disrobed of all her borrowed light.

No month for lover's madness, this. Not a lover can steal forth by the
light of the moon, or do any foolish thing this month, thanks be to God!

_August_--

The Earth and Sky Resound with Thunder Loud,
And Oblique streams flash from the dusky Cloud.

That first line demands many capital letters, and what a fine word
Oblique is in the second.

_September_ says--

The burthened earth abounds with various fruit,
Which doth the Epicurean's Palate Suit.

It is to be hoped these wicked Epicureans got no more than their share,
and that church members were not converted to the heathen philosophy by
such baits.

_October_--

The Tyrant Mars old Saturn now opposes,
Which stirs up Feuds and may make bloody Noses.

October then was the fighter's month. This begins nobly, but ends
waggishly.

_November_--

Now what remains to Comfort up our lives,
But Cordial Liquor and kind, loving Wives?

"Comfort up," that is good. But the Cordial Liquor is doubtful; and then
are there no girls in the sweet bloom of maidenhood left to Comfort up
our lives? Sad indeed!

_December_ closes up--

The Chrystal streams, congealed to Icy Glass,
Become fit roads for Travellers to pass.

Excellent for the travellers.

But now in the column of "Mutations of Weather," we find this":

"Christmas is nigh;
The bare name of it
to Rich or Poor
will be no profit."

We are startled. Does he mean to speak ill of Christmas--to stab it? We
look again. No--it i