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THE ORNITHOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 



ANEMONE NEMOROSA. 



B-^ ADELINES. KEITH, BRIDGE WATER, MASS. 



In the lattef part of April, and in May, 

 you will find myriads of white stars on 

 the edges of the woods, by stone walls 

 and by road-side, everywhere where 

 there is a bush undisturbed. These 

 trembling, white flowers seldonr bloom 

 far from covert — perhaps they need a 

 shelter to break the force of the wind. 

 Sometimes these stars are large and 

 snowy white, sometimes small and of a 

 greenish tinge, sometimes they wear the 

 slightest blush, and again they are 

 double stars, while some are no stars at 

 all, but pure, pale roses. 



These are our "mayflowers," for we 

 do not see much of the arbutus. Some 

 children, here, have never seen the lat- 

 ter, and some outlive their childhood 

 before they see it growing in its native 

 woods. The mayflower of fame seems 

 not to like our soil, altho' it is found in 

 adjoining towns. Our mayflower has 

 no sweet odor, so far from it that it has 

 gained several titles not at all poetical. 

 Some call this flower anemony, wind- 

 flower, or wood anemone. 



There is nothing very remarkable 

 about this flower. Perhaps it is not 

 strange that it is not oftener mentioned. 

 I have been quite curious to flnd some 

 mention of it in articles on spring flowers, 

 but it does not seem to be a favorite with 

 writers. Yet it is dear to the childrens' 

 hearts. It is so simple and pretty, and 

 then, there is no other just at this time 

 in such abundance. A long, slender, 

 white root in the black leaf mould, 

 above ground, the root turned brown 

 and shooting upwards a few inches; then 

 an involucre of three very much divided 

 leaves; and then a tiny stem springing 

 up and bearing a nodding bud or star- 

 like blossom; and all swaying with every 

 breath of wind. Tliis is our mayflower. 



One scientist found this flower remark- 

 able for its variations. He noticed how 



the flowers varied in their color and size, 

 in the number and shape of their petal- 

 oidous sepals, and how the bracts or 

 leaves varied in width. To think of 

 such a shy flower helping to confirm 

 the Darwinian theory I 



In an old verse book, long ago, this 

 was discovered: "I have often thought 

 that flowers were the alphabet of angels, 

 whereby they write on hills and flelds 

 mysterious truths."' To the poet it is 

 given to read the language of the flow- 

 ers, and this is what Jones Very tells us 

 is the message they brought him: — 

 ••' Thou lookest up with meek, confid- 

 ing eye 

 Upon the clouded smile of April's 



face, 

 Unharm'd, tho" Winter stands uncer- 

 tain by. 

 Eying with jealous care each open- 

 ing- grace. 

 Thou trusteth wisely 1 In thy faith 



array 'd. 

 More glorious thou than Israel's 



king; 

 Such faith was His whom men to 



death betray'd. 

 As thine who hear'st the timid voice 



of Spring, 

 While other flowers still hide them 



from her call. 

 Along the river's brink and meadow 



bare. 

 Thee will I seek beside the stony 



wall. 

 And in thy trust with childlike heart 



would share. 

 O'er joyed that in thy early leaves I 



find 

 A lesson taught by Him who loved 

 all human kind." 



It may well be doubted which is inost 

 delightful — to start for a holiday which 

 has been well earned, or to return home 

 from one which has been thoroughly 

 enjoyed; to find oneself with renewed 

 vigor, with a new stock of memories 

 and ideas, back once more by one's own 

 fireside with one's family, friends and 

 books. — Lnbbock. 



There is always a new page to be 

 turned in natural history if one is suffici- 

 ently on the alert. — Burroughs. 



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