THE DANDELION. 101 



permanent. Yellow is again the livery of autumn, 

 in all the shades of ochre and of orange ; the " sere 

 and yellow leaf" becomes the general cast of the 

 season, the sober brown comes next, and then 

 decay. 



Many impressions commonly fade away and 

 become effaced as other objects create fresh sensa- 

 tions ; but the love of nature, where the regard has 

 been a settled principle, is more permanent, and 

 influences the feelings as long as the occupations of 

 life preserve any interest in our minds. As a child, 

 I viewed the wild field flowers and cropped them 

 with delight ; as a young botanist, culled with 

 rapture the various species, returning often and 

 again to my almost exhaustless treasure in the 

 copse ; and even now, in the cc sere and yellow leaf," 

 when, in some mild vernal evening, I stroll through 

 the grove, see the same floral splendour which year 

 after year has been spread before me, I mark it with 

 admiration and surprise, find it enchanting still, 

 and fancy the present loveliness superior to all that 

 has been before. There we see that beautiful little 

 brilliant of the earth, like the name it bears (day's- 

 eye), cheerful and pleasing to all. The exquisite 

 chasteness of mien, and form of this flower, the 

 contrast of its colours, and simplicity of attitude 

 which it displays when springing from out its 

 grassy tuft, can hardly be surpassed by any from 

 another region. By its side peeps out the bright 



