THE FAIRIES' OFFERING TO THE QUEEN OF MAY.

Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger,
Comes dancing from the east, and leads with her
The flowery May, who from her green lap throws
The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose.
Hail, bounteous May! that dost inspire
Mirth and youth with warm desire;
Woods and groves are of thy dressing,
Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing.
Thus we salute thee with our early song,
And welcome thee and wish thee long.

Twenty Female Figures.

So sings Milton to the sweet Birdmonth—he whose mighty mind "nigh sphered in Heaven," hymned the soft beauty of the first day that dawned upon the infant world, which surely must have been a May-morning.

"Sweet day, so calm, so pure, so bright,
The bridal of the earth and skies."

What must have been a May-morning in Paradise, when even now, in the homeliest districts, it gladdens the heart of man with its advent of young flowers and budding leaves and sweetly singing birds! It seems to be Nature's own birthday, throughout the varied kingdoms of her living world. All countries have greeted the welcome arrival of this fair day, but none more so than old Pastoral England, in the time of her elder poets. Time was, when, from the court to the cottage, all "rose up early to observe the rite of May;" some went a "dew-gathering," a sort of rustic love-spell that was sure to enchant every maiden, gentle or simple; others to "fetch in May"—a rivalry that "robbed many a hawthorn of its half-blown sweets;" and others set their wits to work to get up some pretty device, some rural drama, one of which our tableau represents.

The Fairies' Offering to the Queen of May is a tableau of great excellence and artistic beauty. The Queen of May is seated on a floral throne in the background, which is situated upon a platform about six feet high, with broad steps extending across the stage and to the footlights. These should be covered with green bocking, and on them are grouped the fairies, who are offering to the queen, baskets, bouquets, and garlands of flowers. On the lower step are other fairies ascending to the throne, and bearing baskets of fruit and flowers on their heads. The number of figures in the piece is twenty, nineteen of which are young misses, quite small and pretty, and one a beautiful maiden, who takes the part of the May Queen.

You must wake and call me early, call me early, mother dear;
To-morrow'll be the happiest time of all the glad New-year;
To-morrow'll be of all the year the maddest, merriest day,
For I'm to be Queen o' the May, mother, I'm to be Queen o' the May.
Tennyson.