Wild Flowers of Colorado. 



A moonlight nioht, a party of friends had called to say 

 good-by. They were going, they said, "for a good time," and 

 what should they bring me? Now this good time meant six in 

 the party, a private car, a fine variety t)f ammunition for the 

 department of the interior, guns, rods, and four beautiful dogs. 



"What will you bring me ? Flowers — all that you can find; 

 and pre? ' them so that I can paint them as souvenirs of your 

 trip." "We will do so— but stay; why not accompany us and 

 make your paintings from the fresh flowers? It will be much 

 better than copying the pressed ones. I will take my wife, who 

 is wild to go, and instead of six, we shall make eight. But if, 

 while calmly sketching, a stray shot comes too close, or all the 

 dogs in turn play leap-frog o\'er your easel, shall we then sec the 

 same smiling countenance ? " " Certainly ! " " Then it is agreed," 

 and so it came to pass that in the autumn of 1884 a happy party 

 left Denver for a thirty days' trip in the mountains of Colorado. 



While we arc on our way to Colorado Springs, which we do 

 not reach until afternoon, let me help you pass the time by 

 showing you some of our early spring flowers. 



The first to make its appearance, almost before the snow 



