THE FIRST BLOSSOM 3 



for the search in the bog before we had thought of a 

 courier of spring? No matter, then, how cold or wintry 

 the landscape, go now in early March to the wet low- 

 lands, and get your first vernal greeting from the lowly 

 hermit of the bog. Welcome the prophet that 

 pierces the snow, the pioneer that lifts the bar- 

 riers of ice to tell us of the message he has 

 received from mother- earth, long before the 

 wood flower hears it in the south wind, or the 

 lisp of the bluebird tells it to the trees ! What 

 matters it that our purple-mottled, hooded blos- 

 som is not graced with perfume nor blest with 

 a poetic name? What though it may not ap- 

 pear to advantage in a button -hole? The 

 skunk- cabbage hood is as much entitled to the 

 ilif nam e of flower as its close relative the beautiful 

 calla, while the naturalized European bees have 

 long welcomed it to their posy, and recognized 



. 



the humble "prophet not without honor 

 save in its own country." 



