April 20.

St. Agnes, of Monte Pulciano, A.D. 1317. St. Serf, or Sevanus, Bp. 5th Cent. St. James of Sclavonia, or Illyricum, A.D. 1485.

Easter Term, 1825, begins.

On this day the sun enters Taurus [Zodiacal sign] or the bull, at 9 h. 50 m. A. M., at which period black cattle produce their offspring, and hence probably the sign is represented by the male animal. The Greeks affirmed it to be the bull into which Jupiter metamorphosed himself, when he visited Europa, but this sign was figured and worshipped throughout the East as the god Apis, or a symbol of the sun, before the Greek zodiac existed.

SEASONABLE DESIRES.

With the incoming of spring there is an outgoing from town, or a wish to do so. We all love what nature proffers to our enjoyment. Now—the humble tenant of the lofty attic in the metropolis, cultivates a few flowers in garden pots, within the ridge of the parapet that bounds the eye from all things but sky and clouds; and when he can, walks with his wife in search of fields where grass grows and cattle feed. Now—the better conditioned take a trip a few miles beyond the suburbs, and all manifest hopes or wishes for prolonged enjoyment of the country in the approaching summer. Now—ready furnished cottages and lodgings, which have been "to let" throughut the winter in the villages near the metropolis, find admirers, and some of them find occupiers[.] Now—the good wife reminds her good man—"My dear it's very hard, after so many years not to be able to afford a little comfort at last—we can't, you know, live in this way for ever. What a charming day this is. Let us see and get a little place just a little way from town against the fine weather comes; the walk there and back will do you good; it will do us all good; and the expense won't be miss'd in the long run." Now the thoughtful and thrifty, and the unthoughtful and the unthrifty, of certain and uncertain income, begin to plan or scheme where to go "after parliament's up," or in what neighbourhood, or on what site, to hire or build a house suitable to their real or imaginary wants. Now, in other words, "all the world" in London is thinking how or where "to go out of town by and bye."

I who a country life admire,
And ne'er of rural prospects tire,
Salute my friend who loves the town,
And hates to see a country clown.
Tho' we almost congenial be,
In this howe'er we disagree;
You're fond of bustle, din, and smoke,
And things that always me provoke,
Whilst I clear rivulets extol,
That o'er their pebbly channels roll,
Rude mossy rocks that nodding stand;
Rich corn that's waving o'er the land:
Thick shady groves where zephyrs play
And cool the sultry heat of day;
I'm fond of every rustic sport,
And hate—detest a venal court.
Whene'er I quit the noisy town,
And to my rural spot get down,
I find myself quite at my ease,
And can do whatsoe'er I please;
Sometimes I study, sometimes ride,
Or stroll along the river's side,
Or saunter through some fertile mead,
Where lowing herds in plenty feed;
Or rest upon a bank of flowers,
And pass, 'midst innocence, my hours.

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FLORAL DIRECTORY.

Spring Snowflake. Leucojum vernum.
Dedicated to St. Agnes of Monte Pulciano[.]