The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-07-15
Our @lio.
July-summer Vacation.

JQlY-SummeT VaCdLlOu.
Here, midst the boldest triumphs of her worth,
Nature herself invites the reapers forth;
Dares the keen sickle from its twelvemouths' rest
And gives that ardor which, in every breast,
From infancy to age alike appears,
When the first sheaf its plumy top uprears.
BLOOMFIELD.
July was originally designated Qaintitis,
in reference to its fifth place in the calen-
dar. 1t having been the month in which
Julius Caesar was born, after the death Of
this emperor the name was changed to July,
in honor of that great warrior. Our Saxon
ancestors called it Heymonath, "because
they therein usually moved and made their
hay harvest" July is allowed all over the
northern hemisphere to be the warmest
month of the year, and its great heat led
to a superstition among the Romans, which
still obtains. They conceived that the
great warmth, and the diseases and other
caamities flowing from it, were somehow
connected with the rising and setting of
the star Canicula-the Little Dog-in
coincidence with the sun. They accord
ingly conferred the name of Dog-days upon
the period between the Sd of July and the
18th of August. This star does not rise
now in coincidence with the sun until the
latter part of August.
The summer vacations usually begin
with July, and glance at departing
train or steamboat at this season will show
us many pleasant family group, accoutred
for summer jaunt, and fortified about by
a strange medley of boxes, trunks, fowling-
pieces, fishing canes, and many other things
that have lain for ten months past in dusty
oblivion. Juno with grave satisfaction
is stretched protectingly by their side, and
seems to have visions of scampers upon
the hillside, and cool gambols in the little
winding river. Thomas will not abandon
the fowling-piece, and has his eye upon 1t
anxiousIy, lest it should disappear mystic
riously. He is thinking Of the havoc
among the squirrels he shall make this
year, and forgets how he always came back
empty handed before. John is in raptures
at his privileges in store: of horseback
rides to the gate; of apples in the orchard
to be eaten without the asking; of sports
upon the hay-mow; of whole days rambles
in the forests, weaving oak-wreaths, pluck
ing queer looking flowers, and finding such
cosy, shaded, romantic, little springs in the
rocks. He doesn't forget, either, the long
drives to the market-town; the sport among
the sheaves in the harvest field; the rooster
to be surreptitiously teased; the cows to be
slyly plagued; the cool buttermilk; the
berry-pickings, and above all the weekly
fishing jaunt. Kate is thinking Of how
she shall be kind Of May queen, and be
crowned with flowers She is thinking of
scampering through the meadows after but
terfies and linnets; Of the great shade under
the oak tree; of the swing, the jumping
rope, and the pet rabbits. And all are
thinking how queer it will be to have no
lessons to learn, no weary hours at school,
to be free all the long day. Delightful
are these visions in childhood, and pleasant
for us to recall them
But, indeed, children of larger growth
haye pleasant visions at the prospect of the
summer vacation, be they ever so practical
at other seasons. There are those who
hurry with eager vehemence through all
the watering places, impatient to arrive,
impatient 70 depart, seeking for quiet amid
the clatter of mammoth hotel, and for
rest among wilderness Of walters. But
the vacations that shall enlist our sympa-
thies are those in which the pleasure-seek
ers enter into the solitudes and the deep
retreats of Nature.
1t is well in these jaunts to make little
preparation before the wardrobe is packed.
There are certain books on the library
shelves, that, in our business immolation,
we have forgotten, but which win have
sweet eloquence in our quiet forest ram
bles There is Thomson, whom we remem-
Der now only family. His beautiful rural
pictures would be pleasant things to doze
over during our summer "lotus-eating
Quaint old Isaak Walton would be rare
companion to hold in the hand while our
barbed and fy-baited hook tempts the
hungry nav Of the eager trout There
are other books, poets mostly, that would |
have sweet harmony read beneath the |
music Of rustliug leaves, and by the rippling |
flow of waters. With companion of this
sort, and fair cousin or two to listen to
the choice passages, how sweetly the days |
may glide on-with twilight and moonlight
sails on the forest-shored lake; with noon
day siestas under the quiet elm; with stir
ring scrambIes up the high, ''rock-ribbed"
hills; with delicious rows up and down the |
green-arched stream; with rambles and
long walks into remote forest paths; and,
if near the seashore, vigorous bathing 10
the tumbling surf