The Snowdrop. 34S 



white-robed nun, who, on St. Agnes Eve, stands watching, as 

 she says: — 



" The shadows of the convent towers 

 Slant down the snowy sward, 

 Still creeping with the creeping hours 

 That lead me to my Lord. 



Make Thou my spirit pure and clear 



As are the frosty skies, 

 Or this first Snowdrop of the year 



That in my bosom lies." 



It seems a little ungrateful to the poet to mention that it is the 

 snowflake, or Leucojum, which is more appropriately the flower 

 of St. Agnes. Then one cannot but rejoice with Tennyson when 

 he gives us the following lines: — 



" Many, many welcomes 



February fair-maid, 

 . Ever as of old time, 

 Solitary firstling. 

 Coming in the cold time. 

 Prophet of the gay time. 

 Prophet of the May time. 

 Prophet of the roses, 

 Manj', many welcomes 

 February fair-maid!" 



With a like note of cheerfulness Lewis Morris has written 

 these lines of the flower: — 



" And as I went 

 Across the lightening fields, upon a bank 

 I saw a siuale Snowdrop glance, and bring 

 Promise of spring." 



Bringing us other aspects of the Snowdrop, Wordsworth 

 gives us some references to the flower, among which we may 

 quote two, as representing it in different, yet allied, associations. 

 In the first we have the flower exposed to one of the early storms 

 of the year. The flowers are — 



" Frail Snowdrops that together cling. 



And nod their helmets, smitten by the wing 

 Of many a furious whirl-blast sweej)ing by." 



Here is another : — 



" Chaste Snowdrop, venturous harbinger of spring. 

 And pensive monitor of fleeting years." 



