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Mutters to see the day so bright,
Fragments of young Hope's poesy :
And oft Dame stops her buzzling wheel
To hear the Robin's note once more,
Who tootles while he pecks his meal

From sweetbriar hips beside the door.

Meanwhile, the farmer is impatient to begin his work in the fields. He ploughs up his fallows; sows beans and peas, rye and spring-wheat; sets early potatoes; drains his wet land; dresses and repairs hedges; lops trees, and plants those kinds which love a wet soil, as poplars and willows.

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MARCH.

SPENSER finely characterizes this month

Sturdy March with brows full sternly bent
And armed strongly ;

yet he pictures it, as it advances, scattering blessings around, and strewing the earth with flowers. Such is, in reality, the progress of the season. In the early days of the month

Winter still lingering on the verge of Spring,
Retires reluctant and, from time to time,

Looks back.

As it proceeds, however—

THOMSON.

The splendid raiment of the spring peeps forth
Her universal green, and the clear sky

Delight still more and more the gazing eye,

BLOOMFIELD.

and all is joy and gladness. The lark is carolling

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