And proffers all it hath of shade

When noon's fierce heats his frame invade.

And while reclined its boughs beneath,

If, Fancy, thou thy spirit breathe
Into each fair and fragrant wreath,

Oh! then, what thrilling memories,
What thoughts within his bosom rise
Of some fond friend, perchance, who showers
His daily path with fairest flowers,

Who greets him with a smile so sweet,

'Twas worth the absence thus to meet.

Or, if a graver mood be thine,

Thou mind'st him of a hand divine;

A friend, all other friends above,

"Whose nature and whose name is love;" Who marks his steps, appoints his way,

Attempers joy's too fervid ray,

And for the dark and stormy hour

Reserveth still some precious flower;

And Who, when life's rough ways are past, Receives him to Himself at last.

THE BIRD-CHERRY.

PRUNUS PADUS.

"The cherry here hung for the birds of heaven
Its rosy fruit on high."

THIS beautiful tree, which is now so commonly introduced into our parks and pleasure-grounds, is no naturalised foreigner, but a real genuine native; for it is found in situations which cultivation never reached situations so wild and inaccessible, as to establish its aboriginal character to the satisfaction of the most sceptical naturalist. In such places, its loose bunches of snowy flowers, and its light foliage, come out with the best possible effect, contrasted with the dark hue of the pines, the stunted oaks, and other peculiar features of mountain scenery. But such, indeed, is its native gracefulness, that it is a beautiful appendage to any scene; and

whether fringing the fell

Or cheering the forest, or gracing the dell,

Or skirting the mountain,

Or shading the fountain,

it always captivates the fancy, and we are apt to imagine, for the time being, that that is the one spot which it was made to adorn. Nor is it only when in flower that it claims our admiration. Its fruit, which ripens towards the end of summer, scarcely yields in beauty to its blossoms; it hangs in long bunches, varying in colour as the season advances, from green to full black. In this state it is a most tempting morsel for the birds: hence its English appellation.

The bird-cherry is indigenous in most parts of Europe; it even opens its fragile flowers to the nipping air of Russia and Siberia. It abounds in the northern counties of England, and is profusely scattered among the woods, and on the borders of the mountain torrents of Scotland. In these natural fastnesses, where it is more likely to escape the stroke of the axe, it often rises to the height of fifteen feet from a stem eighteen inches in diameter, and spreads its branches to a considerable distance.

The wood of the whole genus is very compact, and in some species of a fine colour. In others, especially some of the bird-cherries, it is beautifully marked, which makes it in request for ornamental cabinet work.

When in bloom, no tree, either in the plantation or the forest, bears about it more unequivocally the impress of spring. "To a fanciful view," it might seem that