376 WILD FLOWEKS OF 



he perceives that he is again approaching the borders 

 of civilized society. 



Having finished our Ossianic reflections upon the 

 dark hill-top, mirth conducted us down : for after 

 starting a covey of red grouse, on we dashed head over 

 heels down the mountain side, often kissing the turf 

 in our swift descent, and bounding over the dashing 

 stream at the bottom, till not without a feeling of joy 

 that our toils were completed, we found ourselves 

 regaled with the fragrant China herb in the parlour 

 of the southern entrance tower of the Abbey, served 

 by fair hands, and cheered with bright eyes. Truly 

 we enjoyed ourselves, till the grey mist of evening 

 shrouding the scene, urged our departure but ere we 

 quite reached home, the grey spirit of the mountain 

 starting after us, blew in sleet and rain one parting 

 memento upon our recollections. 



Such scenes as these will ever and anon refresh the 

 view of the Botanical Looker-out, and invigorate his 

 exertions ; and not in vain do they occur, for while 

 they rest upon the past, like the ruddy glow of sunset 

 streaking the dull gloom of twilight, their remem- 

 brance acts as stimuli to the graver duties and re- 

 searches of the study so that the labours of the one 

 continually prompts to the enjoyment of the other. 

 A modern poet has thus very pleasingly depicted the 

 sensations that the sight of a single flower may bring 

 to the mind when contemplated beneath " the open 

 heaven," and forgetful of the unquiet world 



<e A flow'r is not a flow'r alone, 



A thousand sanctities invest it ; 

 And as they form a radiant zone, 

 Around its simple beauty thrown, 

 Their magic tints become its own, 

 As if their spirit had possess'd it. 



