APRIL. 97 



the foliage of Nature's tapestry. There was a 

 soft verdure after balmy showers. The flowers 

 smiled in various colours on the bending stalks. 

 Some red, others watchet like the blue and 

 wavy sea, speckled with red and white, or 

 bright as gold. The daisy embraided her little 

 coronet. The grass stood embattled with bane- 

 wort; the seeded down flew from the dande- 

 lion. Young weeds appeared among the leaves 

 of the strawberries and gay gilliflowers. The 

 rose-buds, putting forth, offered their red ver- 

 nal lips to be kissed; and diffused fragrance 

 from the crisp scarlet that surrounded their 

 golden seeds. Lilies, with white curling tops, 

 showed their crests open. The odorous va- 

 pour moistened the silver webs that hung from 

 the leaves. The plain was powdered with 

 round dewy pearls. From every bud, scion, 

 herb, and flower bathed in liquid fragrance, 

 the bee sucked sweet honey. The swans cla- 

 moured amid the rustling reeds, and searched 

 all the lakes and grey rivers where to build 

 their nests. The red bird of the sun lifted his 

 coral crest, crowing clear among the plants and 

 bushes, picking his food from every path, and 

 attended by his wives Toppa and Partlet. The 



