FLORA'S LEXICON. 67 



ROCUS. Crocus. Class 3, Triandria. Or- 

 der : Monouynia. According 1 to the Grecian 



mythology, the name of this flower is de- 

 rived from Crocus, a youth who was con- 

 sumed by the ardour of his love for the 

 nymph Smilax, and afterwards changed into 

 the flower which bears his name. The 

 common saffron used in medicine is a species of crocus, the cro- 

 cus sativus, a native of Greece and Asia Minor. 



CHEERFULNESS. 



Oh ! many a glorious flower there grows 



In far and richer lands; 

 But high in my affection e'er 



The Autumnal Crocus stands. 



I love their faces, when by one 



And two they 're looking out : 

 I love them when the spreading field 



Is purple all about. 



I loved them in the by-gone years 

 Of childhood's thoughtless laughter, 



When I marvell'd why the flowers came first, 

 And the leaves the season after. 



I loved them then, I love them now — 



The gentle and the bright ; 

 I love them for the thoughts they bring 



Of Spring's returning light; 



When, first-born of the waking earth, 



Their kindred gay appear, 

 And, with the Snow-drop, usher in 



The hope-invested year. 



HOWITT. 



