XXVII 

 JOHN-GO-TO-BED-AT-NOON 



A LONGISH name for a flower one of its three 

 names! After all it is not saying very much; we 

 have another better, more familiar one with at 

 least six names, and one of them not composed of 

 six words like our John's, but of ten! 



When it is spring I walk in sheltered places, by 

 wood and hedge-side, to look for and welcome the 

 first comers. Oh those first flowers so glad to be 

 alive and out in the sun and wind once more 

 their first early ineffable spring freshness, remem- 

 brancers of our lost childhood, dead and lost these 

 many dim and sorrowful years, now recovered with 

 the flowers, and immortal once more with spring's 

 immortality ! 



Do we not all experience a feeling something like 

 that in an early spring walk? Even a stockbroker 

 or stockjobber knows a primrose when he sees one, 

 and it is a yellow primrose to him too and some- 

 thing more. A something to give him a thrill. It 

 is as if he met a fairy-like child in his walk who 

 tossed back her shining tresses at his approach to 

 look up into his face with eyes full of laughter. 



816 



