^ MEADOW SAFFRON. 



was well rewarded for his pains, so clear, 

 so cool, and sparkling, looked the bright 

 waters of the bason, as the gushing stream 

 flowed into them, and they in their abun- 

 dance overflowed the stony brink, and hur- 

 ried among sedges and tangled briers, wild 

 flowers, and bending hazels. But though 

 no longer seen, the rippling of the current 

 told of its onward course, till joining an- 

 other streamlet, they flowed silently and 

 deeply through meadows, such as poetic 

 fancy might delight to feign, for never has 

 poet's eye rested on a fairer scene. 



Among these meadows, and crowding to 

 the streamlet's brink, grow the meadow 

 safirons, or tube-roots. Lovely flowers that 

 open their lilac-coloured or pale purple 

 cone-shaped petals in September ; greeting 

 the sun when he arises, like the garden 

 crocus ; and folding up again about four 

 in the afternoon, when his beams slant 



