Matthias' tide. 57 



FEB. 26. St. Alexander, patr. of Alexandria, 

 A.D. 326. 



St. Porphyrius, bishop of Gaza, c. in 420. 



St. Victor, in Champagne, anchoret and confessor. 



Obs. St. Alexander succeeded St. Achillas in the see of Alexan- 

 dria in 313. It was through his means that the arrogant heretic 

 Arius was excommunicated, and the Arians confounded. St, 

 Alexander was one of the great council held at Nice against the 

 Arian heresy on the 19th of June, 325, at which the Emperor 

 Constantine was permitted by the bishops to be present, at his own 

 request. This celebrated council added twenty eight canons of 

 discipline, and broke up about the 25th of August. 



St. Victor was born of noble parentage in the diocess of Troyes in 

 Champagne. He lived the recluse life of an anchoret in such a strict 

 manner, that he was emphatically said to live without a body. 



Lesser Periwinkle Vinca minor flowers. 



The Periwinkle is an elegant creeping plant with a small blue 

 flower, blowing all the spring, and often in the mild weather of the 

 winter months : it is well calculated to decorate rockwork, or to 

 cover low stone walls beside the garden. 



The Hedge Sparrow Sylvia modularis sings. Skylarks also sing in 

 the morning ; and the stubble fields begin to be enlivened with the 

 Fieldlarks. 



The early Spring Day. 



The Sun shines bright, the Bees are out. 



Humming the early flowers about ; 



Of Crocus, yellow, striped, and blue, 



Of Hellebores of paler hue. 



And Noble Liverworts, that blowing 



In crimson, white, and blue, are glowing ; 



With Snowdrops, white low drooping heads 



Of purest white, sweet emblem sheds 



Of Mary's maiden chastitie, 



Mother of God in her virginitie. 



Hort. Hesperidum. 



