CHAPTER IV 



ON PLANT LIFE 



WE are told that in old days the Fairies 

 used to give presents of Flowers and Leaves to 

 those whom they wished to reward, or whom 

 they loved best ; and though these gifts were, 

 it appears, often received with disappoint- 

 ment, still it will probably be admitted that 

 flowers have contributed more to the happi- 

 ness of our lives than either gold or silver or 

 precious stones"; and that our happiest days 

 have been spent out-of-doors in the woods and 

 fields, when we have 



. . . found in every woodland way 

 The sunlight tint of Fairy Gold. 1 



To many minds Flowers acquired an ad- 

 ditional interest when it was shown that 



1 Thomson. 



117 



