Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-04-09
MISCELLANEOUS.
From Sears Magazine, for April.
APRIL.

APRIL is usually supposed to be
derived from the Latin word aperio, to
open: our nglo- Saxon ancestors called
it Oster .Monat, and Easter .Moneth,
and are said to have held a feast in
celebration of the goddess Easter.
April weather is become proven
bial expression for mixture of the
bright and gloomy. The pleasantness
ofthe sunshiny days, with the delight
fui view of the fresh greens and newly
opened flowers, is unequalled; but they
are frequently overcast with clouds,
and chilled by rough wintry blasts.
This month gives the most perfect
image OF sp1ing; for its vicissitudes, of
warm CLEANS Of sunshine and gentle
showers, have the most powerful effects
in fastening the universal springing
of the vegetable tribes; whence the
season derives its appellation. April
generally begins with raw, unpleas-
ant weather, the influence Of the equi-
octial storms still in some degree pre-
vailing.
Early in the month, that welcome
guest and hatbinger of summer, the
swallow, returns. The kind first seen
is the chimney or wallow, known
by its long forked tail and red breast.
At first, here and there only one ap-
pears, glancing quick by US, as If
scarce able to endure the cold. But
in few days, their number is much
increased, and they sport with seeming
pleasure in the warm sunshine.
As these birds live on insects, their
appearance is a certain proof that some
Of this minute tribe of animals are now
got abroad from their winter retreats.
"The migration Of BIRDS" says the
excellent Mr.. Ray, "fIom hotter to a
colder country, or colder to hotter,
according to the season of the year, as
their nature is, / know not how to give
an account Of, il is SO strange and ad-
mirable. What moves them to shift
their quarters' you will say, the disa-
greeabIeness of the temper of the air
to the constitution of their bodies, or
want of food. But how come they to
be directed 20 the same place yearly,
though sometimes but little island as
the Solar geese to the Bass of Edin-
burgh firth, which they could not pos
sibly see, and SO it could have no effect
upon them that way. The colder the
heat might possibly drive them in d.
rect line from either; but that they should
impel land birds to venture over wide
ocean, of which they can see no end,
is strange and unaccountable! one
would think that the sight of SO much
water, and present fear of drowning,
should overcome the sense of hunger,
or disagreeableress of the temper OF
the air. Besides, how come they to
steer their course Alright to their sever
al quarters, which, before the compass
was. invented, was hard for a man
himself 10 do, they being not able, as
| noted before, to see.them at that dis
Sfence? Think we that the quails. fol
instance, could see quite across the
sea? and yet 1t is clea
they fly out IF Italy into Africa, light
ing many times on ships in the mids
of the sea, to rest themselves wher
tired and spent with flying. Tha
they should thus shift places, is yer,
convenient for them, and accordingl,
we see they do it; which seems 10 b
impossible they should, unless them
selves were endued with reason, 0
directed and acted upoL by superb
intelligent Cause: - 49, -
The Times, Of Washington city
published BY Mr. Jesse j., Dow am
Nj. y; 4 Robinson, has pesn dis
continued.