THE FIRST DAFFODIL 127 



daffodil came up." With gentle impatience the gardener 

 watches the tiny spear shoot higher and higher, till, followed 

 by others, it has grown into a tall group of spears ; then one 

 morning it is found that the spears are parting and up from 

 their centre is gently pushing that most fascinating thing^ in 

 the whole world a baby bud. 



Now, indeed, the excitement really begins. " What will 

 it be?" is the question. " Long trumpet or short? Emperor 

 or Sir Watkin?" Not that it really matters, for whatever its 

 shape or size it will still be a daffodil. And so the ga'rdener 

 waits and watches, and by degrees the little bud comes farther 

 and farther into the sunshine ; the soft, fine sheath holds tightly 

 round the cnrled-in petals, as though loth to loosen its treasure ; 

 but the petals inside have felt the sun's kiss, and are striving 

 to reach the sunbeams, so the soft sheath stretches and 

 stretches its arms in vain ; the petals are too eager for it, and 

 push it away with all their might, till one morning the sheath 

 finds it is overpowered and gives way graciously. Slowly it 

 draws back and makes room ; and shyly, now that they have 

 really had their way, the silky petals uncurl, and shake their 

 crumples out in the breeze. 



And the gardener, who has been anxiously watching the 

 friendly contest between sheath and petals for some days, 

 comes out very early that morning to find that the earth is 

 beautified by one new treasure, and a golden jewel is waving 

 across the grey-green of his flower-bed, From that moment 



