"WILD FLOWEBS Or SUMMED. 105 



faces to the sun. The buds have started up between 

 them. The arrow-head looks defiantly above them all, 

 nay, even frowns at the stately Bulrush and stalwart 

 Reed-mace, which kisses the bank as if afraid of the 

 moving waters. By-and-bye the yellow stars will shine 

 side by side with the long purples, and the snowy 

 petals of the Aquatic Eanunculus will emulate the 

 snow-flakes which fell into the streamlet when January 

 frowned upon its gambols. The river seems to rejoice 

 in its fringe of glory, and goes lazily onward to its 

 stepmother the sea. The old highway seems sunburnt, 

 and proud too of its road-side beauties. The fields 

 entice, the woodlands allure us, the moorland invites 

 us, the swelled torrent of the hill-side is less threaten^ 

 ins;. It is summer-time. Let us leave the close-built 

 town, and wander among the flowers 



