WILD FLOWERS red 



who roam the woods in the springtime, not to admire 

 and study Nature, but to gather wild flowers thought- 

 lessly and without discretion for the mere sake of a 

 bouquet. From the very nature of their surroundings, 

 these plants are not always deeply and strongly rooted 

 and as their stems are firm and wiry, the entire plant 

 is likely to be uprooted with the flower when it is roughly 

 plucked, and then, of course, it is left to perish. The 

 early wild flowers seem to have selected the Columbines 

 for their reception committee, and to have stationed 

 them along the rocky balconies of woodland ridges 

 during their spring festival, to extend a hearty welcome 

 to all strangers who happen to pass within nodding 

 distance of their abode. If this should be true of the 

 Columbines, it is certain that they fulfil their social 

 obligation gracefully and without fear or favour, 

 greeting old friends and acquaintances here and there 

 with cheerful nods and bows, or courtesying with 

 becoming dignity, this way or that, to new callers, as 

 occasion requires. They seem tireless in their delight- 

 ful efforts to make one feel at home, and they are 

 always found extending the right hand of good- 

 fellowship to all visitors alike. Perhaps this has some 

 bearing on the recent discussion regarding the selection 

 of the Columbine for our national flower, for we know 

 that Uncle Sam has always welcomed the immigrants 

 from every clime with the same impartial hospitality 

 and goodwill. Popularly the common name, Colum- 

 bine, is not far removed from Columbia, the Goddess 

 of Liberty and "the gem of the ocean," when standing 



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