84 THE SNOWDROP. 
*‘ Now the glad earth her frozen zone unbinds, 
And o’er her bosom breathe the western winds ; 
Already now the Snowdrop dares appear, 
The first pale blossom of th’ unripen’d year ; 
As Flora’s breath, by some transforming power, 
Had chang’d an icicle into a flower: 
Its name and hue the scentless plant retains, 
And winter lingers in its icy veins.” 
‘¢ Fair-handed spring unbosoms every grace, 
Throws out the Snowdrop and Crocus first.” 
THOMSON. 
The Snowdrop appears selected by Flora to find whether the frost 
be mitigated, and as a herald to announce the arrival of her garland. 
It is the first flower that awakes from the repose of winter, and cheers 
us with the assurance of the reanimation of nature; and hence it has 
been made the emblem of consolation. We look upon it as a friend in 
adversity, sure to appear when most needed : — 
‘“‘ Winter’s gloomy night withdrawn, 
Lo! the young romantic hours 
Search the hill, the dale, the lawn, 
To behold the Snowdrop white 
Start to light, 
And shine in Flora’s desert bowers, 
Beneath the vernal dawn, 
The Morning Star of flowers.” 
MonTGoMERY. 
“The Snowdrop, who, in habit white and plain, 
Comes on, the herald of fair Flora’s train ; 
The coxcomb Crocus, flower of simple note, 
Who by her side struts in an herald’s coat.” 
CuURCHILL. 
This delicate lovely flower was formerly held sacred fo virgins, and 
this may account for its being so generally found in the orchards and 
gardens attached to old monastic buildings :— 
*‘ Like pendant flakes of vegetating snow, 
The early herald of the infant year, 
Ere yet the adventurous Crocus dares to blow, 
Beneath the orchard boughs thy buds appear. 
While still the cold north-east ungenial lowers, 
And scarce the hazle in the leafless copse, 
Or willows show their downy powdered flowers, 
The grass is spangled with thy silvery drops.” 
Mrs. Smirn. 
The formation of the flower is admirably adapted to the days of 
north winds and the nights of hoar frost. The delicacy with which 
the corolla is attached to the flower-stalk enables it to move with the 
winds in every direction, without fear of snapping or suffering the air 
