MAY 87 



of a wood. Every wild plant that makes 

 its home in it is welcome ; even dande- 

 lions, and stellaria, and wood - sorrel 

 (flower of the Holy Ghost), one little flower 

 of which has just remembered it is Whit- 

 suntide, and opened its veined petals. 



The bluebells nodding to each other 

 under this sun-chequered living green of 

 Spring, are fresh joy to me every morning 

 and every evening. I suppose wide sheets 

 of them, a very ( Heaven upbreaking from 

 the earth/ might give greater pleasure ; 

 but only in extent scarcely in degree. 

 My l wood ' is but a little chink of heaven, 

 yet the delight of it is as pure as it is 

 small. There was a fear lest these wild 

 hyacinths might deteriorate in land not 

 poor enough to keep them humble ; that 

 downward curve of the slender stalk, which 

 is grace itself and the glory of bluebells, 

 seemed about to be lost in over-luxuri- 

 ance ; the heads of flower, bent low 

 enough however, after they were fully 

 blown. There are countless groups of 

 white, and blue, and pale mauve hyacinths 

 that once were wild, dispersed about the 



