THE CROCUS. ^^^t" 



THE CROCUS {Crocus vcrnns). — PLEASURES OF HoPE. 



The Snowdrop is the emblem of Consolation, reminding 

 us that the season is approaching when blooming flowers will 

 again deck the earth in beautiful profusion ; with her atten- 

 dant comes up the Crocus, which imparts to our hope of 

 returning spring such emotions of pleasure, that it may well 

 represent those agreeable sensations which pervade the mind 

 when we see the purple, and golden, and violet-coloured 

 flowers bursting through the earth, not seldom covered with 

 snow, which gives additional zest to our gratification. Poets 

 have at all times inwoven it in their verse : Homer speaks of 

 " Crocus and Hyacinth," and Milton mentions them together 

 in like manner ; Thomson associates it with the Snowdrop ; — 



" Fair-handed Spring unbosoms every grace, 

 Throws out the Snowdrop and the Crocus first ;" 



So, also. Miss Taylor, in speaking of the leafy spring, — 



" Above the garden beds, watched well by lady's eye, 

 Snowdrops with milky heads peep to the softening sky, 

 And wTlcome Crocuses shoot up, 

 With gilded spike and golden cup." 



To Miss Twamlcy's imagination the Crocus was a right royal 

 flower, — 



"The regal Crocus, in purple and gold, 

 Bursts with life from its leafy fold." 



And elsewhere, fancying the Snowdrop to come forth at the 

 call of the robin in his merry song, she writes, — 



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