THE WORK OF FLOWERS 117 



us. Though it is by no means only for admiration that 

 they exist, since they hke the leaves have an especial 

 work to carry out — still they might have done that work 

 without being so beautiful as they are. Many flowers 

 which are not beautiful do the same work as their fairer 

 sisters, and do it well. 



But what a different world this would be, if we had 

 no sweet little "Sister-blooms" to love and tend; if 

 we had all that we need in the way of food and clothing 

 through the Vegetable Kingdom, but nothing to satisfy 

 the craving that is in our minds for beauty of form and 

 of colouring. 



** There in a meadow, by the river's side, 

 A flock of nymphs I chanced to espy. 

 All lovely daughters of the flood thereby, 

 With goodly greenish locks all loose untied 

 As each had been a bride ; 

 And each one had a little wicker basket 

 Made of fine twigs, entrailed curiously. 

 In which they gather' d flowers to fill their flasket. 

 And with fine &igers cropt full feateously 

 The tender stalks on high. 

 Of every sort which in that meadow grew 

 They gathered some — the violet, pallid blue. 

 The Uttle daisy that at evening closes. 

 The virgin hly and the primrose true. 

 With store of vermeil roses. 

 To deck their bridegrooms' posies 

 Against the bridal day, which was not long ; 

 Sweet Thames; run softly, till I end my song." ^ 



II — Pistils and Stamens 



In an earlier chapter we heard about the different 

 Parts of a Flower. They were : the Flower-stalk ; the 

 ^ E. Spenser. 



