CHAPTER XXIII. 

 RIVER-SIDE FLOWERS. 



" How often doth a wild-flower bring 

 Fancies and thoughts that seem to spring 



From inmost depth of feeling ! 

 Nay, often they have power to bless 

 With their uncultured loveliness, 

 And far into the aching breast 

 There goes a heavenly thought of rest, 



With their soft influence stealing." 



IN describing the various plants, we have endeavoured to 

 avoid a too scientific definition, giving only the general 

 character, with a reference to the number of the coloured 

 illustrations in Sowerby's " English Botany," third edition. 

 The general characters are taken chiefly from Hooker's 

 " British Flora." As far as possible, they are placed in 

 the order of the months in which they flower, not in any 

 botanical arrangement. Hooker says : " Be assured that 

 in plants taken individually and in an isolated manner 

 there are subjects that will give ample scope for the em- 

 ployment of the talents of the greatest philosophers, in the 

 due contemplation of which they may derive both pleasure 

 and advantage to themselves and be the means of com- 

 municating them to others." 



" The well-directed sight 

 Brings in each flower an universe of light." 



Independent of the water-side plants, there are others 

 which meet the eye on our way, both in meadow and 

 copse, such as the primrose, violet, blue-bell, daffodil, 

 buttercup, daisy, and snowdrop : 



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