252 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [14:6— Sept., 1918 



"Yet o'er one corner wildness still held sway, 

 And there, I always felt a shadow lay, 

 In that strange spot pale purple asters came, 

 When earth wore gorgeous colors on her breast, 

 And fields were ripe, and autumn's flood of flame 

 From scarlet maples swept from east and west 

 They bore no wealth of royal purple bloom, 

 But seemed meet products of great Nature's gloom. 

 Perhaps even such bright lands may need to see 

 The purple asters of despondency." 



— Wentworth H. Eaton. 



The New England Aster is found wherever there is moist soil, in 

 fields, meadows, roadsides and waste places. It was once culti- 

 vated in Europe on account of its beauty, but has escaped and is 

 now locally naturalized there. In spite of the name, the plant is 

 more common in the middle western states than in New England. 

 Though possessing a color generally associated with shadows and 

 gloom, the graceful purple aster to me is as a beautiful lady with 

 heart of gold giving cheer and comfort to every passer-by. 



Deo Volente 



Wm. Prindle Alexander 



When the great Chemist Death shall once prepare 



The final draught for me, and straight undo 



This atom dwelling, all beyond repair, 



And I the guest, am hurried unaware 



Into the realm of elements anew, 



'Mid rolling worlds, and tracts of endless blue; 



Shall I return to where my passions burned 



Of old, and where my every fibre sang 



When in the cycles I again am turned 



To something conscious of a joy or pang? 



Or will forever silently be urned 



The dreams of Now, and truths I sought unlearned? 



I would implore my future state to be 



Here in my joyfilled, carefilled Arcady! 



