THE DAISY. 99 



come effaced as other objects create fresh sensations ; 

 but the love of nature, where the regard has been a 

 settled principle, is more permanent, and influ- 

 ences the feelings as long as the occupations of life 

 preserve any interest in our minds. As a child, I 

 viewed the wild field flowers, and cropped them 

 with delight ; as a young botanist, culled with rap- 

 ture the various species, returning often and again 

 to my almost exhaustless treasure in the copse ; and 

 even now in the u sere and yellow leaf," when, in 

 some mild vernal evening, I stroll through the 

 grove, see the same floral splendour which year 

 after year has been spread before me, I mark it with 

 admiration and surprise, find it enchanting still, 

 and fancy the present loveliness superior to all that 

 has been before. There we see that beautiful little 

 brilliant of the earth, like the name it bears (day's- 

 eye), cheerful and pleasing to all. The exquisite 

 chasteness of mien, and form of this flower, the 

 contrast of its colours, and simplicity of attitude 

 which it displays when springing from out its 

 grassy tuft, can hardly be surpassed by any from 

 another region. By its side peeps out the bright 

 gleeful blue eyes of the little germander speedwell, 

 in joyful gaiety a lowly domestic plant that loves 

 and seeks alliance with its kind, and in small family 

 associations, by united splendour, decorates the 

 foliage around ; and there we find the stitch-wort, 

 mingling her snowy bloom, immaculately pure, with 

 pallid green : too delicate to vegetate alone, it seeks 

 the shelter of the hedge or copse, trembles when 



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