176 THE PURPLE CROCUS. 



briglit yellow species, shedding a mimic sunshine 

 upon beds of snow : there are others of ilie family 

 more sober in aspect; looking tranquilly content 

 in the spot where tliey have been placed ; and, un- 

 der all allcndanl circumstances, placidly cheerful. 

 They seem to say, ' It is but for a little while ; 



The storm of wintry time shall quickly pass, 



and we will not murmur that we at present feel 

 their severity.' 



The yellow crocus was my favourite in very 

 early years ; but a small portion of experience 

 sufficed to transfer my preference to its purple 

 brother : and to it is attached a particular train of 

 thought, uow connecting in my mind its lowly sta- 

 tion, and its quiet hue, with the memory of a 

 humble, yet most vigorous and happy Christian, 

 %vho, just as the earliest crocus was peeping forth 

 in my garden, received his summons to depart and 

 be with Christ. 



He was an nged man ; the inmate of an alms- 

 house ; situated, happily for him, on the confines 

 of a church-vard. When first I knew him, he 

 was drawing spiritual nourishment from the minis- 

 trations of a pastor whom he most dearly loved; 

 and who seemed to have been commissioned to 

 hold a temporary charge in that parish, for the 

 purpose, among many others, of more brightly 

 trimming the lamp of old B. At our frequent 



