OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS 



nual Helianthus, or Sunflower, towers 

 like a priest raising the monstrance 

 over the lesser folk in prayer and 

 strives to resemble the luminary which 

 he adores. The Poppy exerts himself to 

 fill with light his cup torn by the morn- 

 ing wind. The rough Larkspur, in his 

 peasant's blouse, who thinks himself 

 more beautiful than the sky, looks 

 down upon the Dwarf Convolvuluses, 

 who reproach him spitefully with put- 

 ting too much blue into the azure of his 

 flowers. The Virginia Stock, arch and 

 demure in her gown of jaconet, like the 

 little servant-maids of Dordrecht or 

 Ley den, washes the borders of the beds 

 with innocence. The Mignonette hides 

 herself in her laboratory and silently 



C I* J 



