FLORA'S LEX [COW. 75 



ANDELION. Lmntodon Taraxacum. I 

 19, Syngenesia. Order : Polyoamia 

 ^Equalis. Linnaeus has given the dande- 

 lion a deserved place in the horologe of 

 Flora. It is one of the plants that may be 

 most certainly depended upon as to the 

 hour of opening and closing its flowers. 

 The flower, if we well examine it, we shall discover to be fully 

 as handsome as the fine garden anemone ; and it only needs to 

 be as rare to be prized as much. This plant blossoms early in 

 the spring, and continues through the summer. 



ORACLE. 



Thine full many a pleasing bloom 

 Of blossoms lost to all perfume; 

 Thine the dandelion flowers, 

 Gilt with dew like sun with showers. 



Clare. 



Miss Landon wrote some very beautiful lines, on seeing an 

 illustration of the garden scene in Goethe's Faust, where Mar- 

 garet plucks a star-like flower to divine the real sentiments of her 

 lover. They are called " The Decision of the Flower." 



Arid with scarlet poppies around, like a bower, 

 The maiden found her mystic flower; 

 " Now, gentle flower, I pray thee tell 

 If my lover loves me, and loves me well ; 

 So may the fall of the morning dew 

 Keep the sun from fading thy tender blue. 



Now I number the leaves for my lot — 



He loves not — he loves me — he loves me not — 



He loves me, — yes, thou last leaf, yes — 



I'll pluck thee not for that last sweet guess! 



He loves me!" — "Yes," a dear voice sigh'd, 



And her lover stands by Margaret's side. 



