THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. 



THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM {Ornithogalum umbella- 

 tum). — Purity. 



The " Bright-eyed Star of Bethlehem," is indigenous, but 

 it is a welcome plant in our gardens. From April to June it 

 bears an umbel of star-like flowers, white as the purest milk. 

 There is no dweller in our borders more agreeable in its 

 whole appearance than it, and none more pure and pleasing. 



STRAWBERRY {Fragaria vesca). — Perfect Goodness. 



The Strawberry Plant is a lowly one, but its leaves are 

 exquisitely cut, and furnish, as regards form, ornaments on the 

 coronets of the Princess Royal of England and her sisters, 

 of Nephews of the royal blood, and of Dukes, Marquisses, and 

 Earls. The flowers are pretty in shape, perfectly white, and 

 cluster in masses upon the plants, and are so attractive as to 

 induce children to pluck them ; hence Wordsworth makes an 

 elder child address a younger one thus : 



" That is work of waste and ruin — do as Charles and I are doing ! 

 Strawberry blossoms, one and all, we must spare them— here are many ; 

 Look at it— the flower is small, small and low, though fair as any : 

 Do not touch it ! summers two I am older, Anne, than you." 



Then the child bids Anne pluck other flowers, whose fruit is 

 useless to us, and proceeds to say why she would spare the 

 Strawberry flower, 



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