THE FORGET-ME-NOT. 127 



brooks, rivers, and stagnant ditches ; asking only for 

 moisture in order to fringe their sides with its turquoise 

 flowers, whose brilliant hue is beautifully contrasted 

 with the clear yellow eye, and the distinct white 

 ray which defines the base of each segment of the 

 monopetalous corolla. Yet in a state of cultivation 

 it will dispense with the natural requirement of 

 moisture, and will even produce blossoms of a larger 

 size than when in its native habitats. There can be 

 few more beautiful plants for "bedding" as gar- 

 deners term it, than this ; possessing, as it does, the 

 advantage of continuing the whole summer in 

 bloom if the blossom -stalks be but regularly 

 gathered ; teaching, that like the friendship of 

 which it is the emblem, it strengthens by cultiva- 

 tion. It is also an excellent plant for " window 

 gardening/' 



Pliny, who, like most of the early writers, has 

 always some wonderful tale to tell of the Egyptians, 

 affirms that they believe that if this plant is 

 gathered on the 27th day of Thiatis (Thoth), which 

 answers nearly to our August, and any one anoints 

 his eyes with its juice before he speaks in the 

 morning, he will be free from weak eyes all that 

 year. This grows in the valley of the Nile ; but 

 there is also a myosotis peculiar to the Desert 

 though rare there which is rather smaller, and with 

 a darker blue flower, than any of our species. 



To wander forth into the boundless, and bondless, 

 realms of poetry, and of rhyme, which have been 

 attached to this little flower would be a task 

 for which we have little inclination, but we can, 



