CELANDINE. 9 



upon the ground, these little bulbs get into the earth, and 

 become the roots of new plants. The stalks being some- 

 times washed bare by the rains, have induced the ignorant 

 and superstitious to believe that it rained wheat. The 

 young leaves are eaten by the common people of Sweden, 

 boiled as greens. 



^Vt night, and in wet weather, the flowers close, which 

 helps to preserve them from the cold that otherwise might 

 be hurtful to them, from their flowering so early in the 

 spring. They first appear in February, and continue 

 through March, and a great part of April. It seems, the 

 early flowering of this plant has helped to recommend it 

 to the notice of Mr. Wordsworth, by whom it has been 

 highly and repeatedly celebrated : 



" Pansies, lilies, kingcups, daisies, 

 Let them live upon their praises ; 

 Long as there's a sun that sets, 

 Primroses will have their glory ; 

 Long as there are violets, 

 They will have a place in story : 

 There 's a flower that shall be mine, 

 'Tis the little Celandine. 



Eyes of some men travel far 

 For the finding of a star ; 

 Up and down the heavens they go, 

 Men that keep a mighty rout ! 

 I'm as great as they, I trow, 

 Since the day I found thee out, 

 Little flower ! I '11 make a stir 

 Like a great astronomer. 



Modest, yet withal an elf, 

 Bold, and lavish of thyself, 

 Since we needs must first have met 

 I have seen thee high and low, 

 Thirty years or more, and yet 

 'Twas a face I did not know ; 



