190 FLORA'S LEXICON. 



NOWDROP. Galanthus. Class 6, Hex- 

 andria. Order : Monogynia. The north 

 wind whistles, and the hoar frost clothes the 

 verdure-despoiled trees; an uniform white 

 carpet covers the earth, — the birds withhold 

 their tuneful song, — and the sealed waters 

 cease to murmur as they roll along ; the 

 rays of the sun, enfeebled by the density of our atmosphere, shed 

 a gloomy light over our fields ; and the heart of man is sad, while 

 all nature reposes in torpid tranquillity. 



Thus Madame de La Tour describes the state of nature, when 

 suddenly a delicate flower pierces through the veil of snow which 

 had concealed it. It has been aptly termed by her countrymen 

 Perce neige, from the quality just named ; and is with equal 

 propriety called snow-drop in America. 



CONSOLATION. 



The rose is for the nightingale, 



The heather for the lark; 

 But the holly greets the red-breast 



'Mid winter drear and dark; 

 And the snow-drop, waken'd by his song, 



Peeps tremblingly forth, 

 From her bed of cold still slumber, 



To gaze upon the earth. 

 For the merry voice above her 



Seem'd a herald of the Spring, 

 As o'er the sleeping flowers 



Blithe robin came to sing — 

 "Up, up! my lady snow-drop, 



No longer lie in bed, 

 But dance unto my melody 



And wave your graceful head." 



TWAMLEY. 



