176 THE PURPLE CROCUS. 



bright yellow species, shedding a mimic sunshine 

 upon beds of snow : there are others of the family- 

 more sober in aspect; looking tranquilly content 

 in the spot where they have been placed ; and, un- 

 der all attendant circumstances, placidly cheerful. 

 They seem to say, ' It is but for a little while ; 



The storm of wintry time shall quickly pass, 



and we will not murmur that we at present feel 

 their severity.' 



The yellow crocus was my favourite in very 

 early years ; but a small portion of experience 

 sufficed to transfer my preference to its purple 

 brother : and to it is attached a particular train of 

 thought, now connecting in my mind its lowly sta- 

 tion, and its quiet hue, with the memory of a 

 humble, yet most vigorous and happy Christian, 

 who, just as the earliest crocus was peeping forth 

 in my garden, received his summons to depart and 

 be with Christ. 



He was an aged man ; the inmate of an alms- 

 house ; situated, happily for him, on the confines 

 of a church-yard. When first I knew him, he 

 was drawing spiritual nourishment from the minis- 

 trations of a pastor whom he most dearly loved ; 

 and who seemed to have been commissioned to 

 hold a temporary charge in that parish, for the 

 purpose, among many others, of more brightly 

 trimming the lamp of old B. At our frequent 



