The below extract is taken from Kate Greenaway’s 1890 almanack and describes the seasons through rhyme and accompanying illustrations…
“SPRING
The lambs are playing, and the day
Is sweetly scented with the May.
Summer
The sun is warm, but sweetly cool
The waters of the rippling pool.
AUTUMN
The corn is cut, and on the bough
Are reddest apples hanging now.
WINTER
The cold is keen, for north winds blow,
And softly falling comes the snow.”
Catherine Greenaway (1846 – 1901), known as Kate Greenaway, was an English children’s book illustrator and writer. Her almanacs ran from 1883 up until 1897, with no 1896 issue being published. Each almanacks included a Jan-Dec calendar, beautifully drawn illustrations and short poems. Her almanacs were sold throughout America, England, Germany and France and were produced with different variations and in different languages.