34 NATURE STUDY. 



Winds wander, and dews drip earthward, 

 Bain falls, suns rise and set, 

 Earth whirls, and all but to prosper 

 A poor little violet." 



The dandelion is a symbol of man. Its life is full 

 of symbolism for the children. From the study of the 

 plant, from what comes to the child through his eyes, 

 the gateways to his soul, our boys and girls can better 

 appreciate what they receive from their environment, 

 and what they owe to it. Hans Andersen brings out 

 these ethical lessons in " The Apple Branch," and in 

 many other tales. Thus the dandelion may minister to 

 the ethical nature of the child and of his teacher. 



We cannot do better than turn to Lowell's poem, 

 "To the Dandelion": - 



TO THE DANDELION. 



/ , 



Dear common flower, that grow'st beside the way, 

 * Fringing the dusty road with harmless gold, 



First pledge of blithesome May, 

 Which children pluck, and, full of pride, uphold, 

 High-hearted buccaneers, o'er joyed that they 

 An Eldorado in the grass have found, 



Which not the rich earth's ample round 

 May match in wealth, thou art more dear to me 

 Than all the prouder Summer-blooms may be. 



Gold such as thine ne'er drew the Spanish prow 

 Through the primeval hush of Indian seas, 



Nor wrinkled the lean brow 

 Of age, to rob the lover's heart of ease ; 

 'Tis the Spring's largess, which she scatters now 

 To rich and poor alike, with lavish hand, 



Though most hearts never understand 



