THE PROCESSION OF THE FLOWERS 33 
the very midst of this pale plantation a single 
clump will sometimes bloom with all heaven on 
its petals? Why can one recognize the Plym- 
outh Mayflower, as soon as seen, by its won- 
drous depth of color? Perhaps it blushes with 
triumph to see how Nature has outwitted the 
Pilgrims, and has even succeeded in preserving 
her deer like an English duke, since she still 
maintains the deepest woods in Massachusetts 
precisely where those sturdy immigrants first 
began their clearings. 
The Hepatica (called also Liverwort, Squir- 
rel-Cup, or Blue Anemone) has been found in 
Worcester as early as March 17, and in Dan- 
vers on March 12,—dates which appear al- 
most the extreme of credibility. Our next 
wild-flower in this region is the Claytonia, or 
Spring Beauty, which is common in the Middle 
States, but here found in only a few localities. 
It is the Indian MW/iskodeed, and was said to 
have been left behind when mighty Peboan, 
the Winter, was melted by the breath of Spring. 
It is an exquisitely delicate little creature, bears 
its blossoms in clusters, unlike most of the 
early species, and opens in gradual succession 
each white and pink-veined bell. It grows in 
moist places on the sunny edges of woods, and 
prolongs its shy career from about the 1oth of 
April until almost the end of May. 
