R£D 



it on the memories of even those who are not ordinarily minute 

 observers. It contrives to secure a foothold in the most precipi- 

 tous and uncertain of nooks, its jewel-like flowers gleaming from 

 their lofty perches with a graceful insouciance which awakens our 

 sportsmanlike instincts and fires us with the ambition to equal it 

 in daring and make its loveliness our own. Perhaps it is as well 

 if our greediness be foiled and we get a tumble for our pains, for 

 no flower loses more with its surroundings than the columbine. 

 Indeed, these destructive tendencies, which, are strong within 

 most of us, generally defeat themselves by decreasing our pleas- 

 ure in a blossom the moment we have ruthlessly and without 

 purpose snatched it from its environment. If we honestly wish 

 to study its structure, or to bring into our homes for preserva- 

 tion a bit of the woods' loveliness, its interest and beauty are 

 sure to repay us. But how many pluck every striking flower 

 they see only to toss it carelessly aside when they reach their 

 destination, if they have not already dropped it by the way. 

 Surely if in such small matters sense and self-control were incul- 

 cated in children, more would ^row up to the poet's standard of 

 worthiness : 



" Hast thou named all the birds without a gun ? 

 Loved the wood-rose and left it on its stalk ? 

 At rich men's tables eaten bread and pulse ? 

 Unarmed, faced danger with a heart of trust ? 

 And loved so well a high behavior, 

 In man or maid, that thou from speech refrained, 

 Nobility more nobly to repay ? 

 O, be my friend, and teach me to be thine ! " * 



The name of columbine is derived from coloinba — a dove, 

 but its significance is disputed. Some believe that it was asso- 

 ciated with the bird-like claws of the blossom ; while Dr. Prior 

 maintains that it refers to the ''resemblance of its nectaries to 

 the heads of pigeons in a ring around a dish, a favorite device 

 of ancient artists." 



* Emerson. 

 255 



