CHILDREN AND FLOWERS. 97 



flowers of the field, regardless of the storm, grow 

 into beauty, and multiply for ever." Yes ! 



" The wilding rose, sweet as thyself, 



And new-cropp'd daisies are thy treasure ; 

 I'd gladly part with worldly pelf, 



To taste again thy youthful pleasure." 



JOAXXA BAILLIE. 



Says the first of Scotland's poetesses, addressing 

 a child ; and the Northamptonshire peasant, in 

 his own peculiar sweet, though mournful strains, 

 thus sings of early delights : 



" Those joys which childhood calls it own, 



Would they were kin to men ! 

 Those treasures to the world unknown, 



When known, are withered then ! 

 But hovering round her growing year?, 



To gild Care's sable shroud, 

 Their spirit through the gloom appears, 



As sun behind a cloud." JOHN CLARE. 



This is but one of the many instances in which 

 he recurs to the flowery pleasures of childhood, 

 and he is but one of the many thousands who 

 have recorded in golden numbers their joyful 

 recollections of that delightful period of exist- 

 ence, when 



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