THE STUDY OF NATURE. 



26 



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tender kisses before the last adieu ! These joys endured 

 but three days. One afternoon my flower folded itself 

 up slowly, never again to re-open. There was an end 

 to its love. 



" I kept to myself my keen regret, as I had kept 

 my happiness. No other flower could have consoled 

 me ; a life more full of life was needed to restore the 

 freedom of my soul. 



" Every year my good nurse came to see me, 

 invariably bringing some little present. On one occa- 

 sion, with a mysterious air, she said to me, ' Put thy 

 hand in my basket.' I did so, expecting to find some 

 fruit, but felt a silken fur, and something trembling. 

 Ah ! it is a rabbit ! Seizing it, I ran in all directions 

 to announce the news. I hugged the poor animal with 

 a convulsive joy, which nearly proved fatal to it. My 

 head was troubled with giddiness. I could not eat. 

 My sleep was disturbed by painful dreams. I saw my 

 rabbit dying ; I was unable to move a single step to 

 succour it. Oh ! how beautiful it was, my rabbit, with 

 its pink nose, and its fur as polished as a mirror ! Its 

 large pearled ears, which were constantly in motion, its 

 fantastic gambols, had, I confess, a share of my admira- 

 tion. As soon as the morning dawned, I escaped from 

 my mother's bed to visit my favourite, and carry it a 

 green leaf or two. There it sat, and gravely ate the 

 leaves, casting upon me protracted glances, which I 

 thought full of affection ; then, erecting itself on its 

 hind paws, it turned to the sun its little snow-white 

 belly, and sleeked its fine whiskers with marvellous 

 dexterity. 



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