2-888-234 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

All A-Blowing! All A-Growing!, 1850. Illustration to "Spring-Time in London", a story by Thomas Miller. '"All a-blowing! all a-growing!" are the first sounds with which the spring flowers are ushered into the streets of London; and although not uttered by the lips of such fabled nymphs as the poets of old clothed in the richest hues of their imagination, and sent forth as attendants on blossom-bearing Spring, the voices still come like gentle greetings from old friends, all the sweeter through having been so long absent. Sometimes we see a pretty face, looking out through the homely bonnet, and behold a light and graceful form, and hear a clear musical voice calling out "Sweet primroses!"' From "Illustrated London News", 1850.