82 , SNOWDROP EXAMINED. 



I gave you to learn in the winter, when you 

 brought me the first Snowdrop from the garden. 



EDWARD. 



Already now the Snowdrop dares appear, 

 The first pale blossom of the unripen'd year : 

 As nature's breath, by some transforming power, 

 Had changed an icicle into a flower ; 

 Its name and hue the scentless plant retains, 

 And winter lingers in its icy veins. 



MOTHER. 



We cannot, then, procure a living plant at pre- 

 sent : but I will read you a description of it, 

 which you may compare with this drawing 

 [PLATE 9.], and you must not forget next spring 

 to examine a real one. " The flower has six 

 66 stamens and one pistil; " it is therefore in the 

 class Hexandria, and order Monogynia. " There 

 " is no cup, but instead of one a sheath," a kind 

 of calyx, of which this plant affords a very good 

 example : and " there are six petals, three smaller 

 " than the rest, standing within the other three, 

 " and notched at the ends." 



EDWARD. 



How very different the small ones are from the 

 other petals ! 



MOTHER. 



For this reason they were considered by Linnaeus 



