HAii.Kvl THE MEMORIES JN WEEDS 379 



wild carrot, tlic s])rciwlinjj^ mallow bearinjj^ the "cheeses" of child- 

 hood, and tlic l:)lack nij^htshade. Near by were smartweeds and 

 dock, foxtail i^rass, and pepper-grass; and in one corner was a 

 lusty i)lant of fennel, the same fennel that I found growing 

 nearly shoulder high in my garden when I came home. I was 

 not so \^ery far away, with so many good friends to meet me. 



Specimens of them I brought home, with others much more 

 rare but not more interesting nor more worth the while. And the 

 first plant of many hundred Chinese things to be mounted in my 

 herbarium is the specimen of catnip from the hills of Honan. 



To the Snow Bunting 



WiLLIAIM PrINDLE ALEXANDER 



Welcome, Oh! child of storm and drift! 



Late guest of Labrador : 

 Most welcome here when through the rift 

 Of frozen boughs, the mad flakes sift; 

 When you, like silver leaves adrift 



Will come, a happ}^ corps! 



Most happy, though the uplands yield 



But rustling, withered weed. 

 When all the wealth of golden field 

 Within a frosty crust is sealed. 

 And to your peering eye revealed 



Is naught but bristling seed. 



And yet when March winds hoarsely blow 

 The first harsh strains of Spring; 



To where the North-land torrents flow 



Through ragged realms of rock and snow, 



On errant wing again you'll go. 

 Go home, to mate and sing! 



Your knowing brethren seek the shade 



Of orange grove and palm, 

 Where now a sumptuous feast is laid 

 O'er flowering key and everglade. 

 Full fair as that for Pavo made 



In lands of the Morning Calm. 



But you, with little satisfied. 



And storm enduring breast; 

 The rattling ragweed will provide 

 Your simple need, so here abide 

 And whistle o'er the countryside, 



My little winter guest ! 



