THE STUDY OF NATURE. 25 
tender kisses before the last adieu! These joys endured 
but three days. One afternoon my flower folded itself 
up slowly, never again to re-open. There was an end 
to its love. 
“T kept to myself my keen regret, as I had kept 
Ay A 
LAY a 
iny happiness. No other flower could have consoled 
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me; a life more full of life was needed to restore the 
freedom of my soul. 
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Every year my good nurse came to see me, 
3 Oe 
invariably bringing some little present. On one occa- 4g 
sion, with a mysterious air, she said to me, ‘Put thy & 
hand in my basket.’ I did so, expecting to find some 
fruit, but felt a silken fur, and something trembling. 
Ah! itis arabbit! Seizing it, I ran in all directions 
to announce the news. I hugged the poor animal with 
a convulsive joy, which nearly proved fatal to it. My 
head was troubled with giddiness. I could not eat. 
My sleep was disturbed by painful dreams. I saw my 
rabbit dying; I was unable to move a single step to 
succour it. Oh! how beautiful it was, my rabbit, with 
its pink nose, and its fur as polished as a mirror! Its 
large pearled ears, which were constantly in motion, its 
fantastic gambols, had, I confess, a share of my admira- 
tion. As soon as the morning dawned, I escaped from 
my mother’s bed to visit my favourite, and carry it a 
green leaf or two. There it sat, and gravely ate the 
leaves, casting upon me protracted glances, which I 
thought full of affection ; then, erecting itself on its 
hind paws, it turned to the sun its little snow-white 
belly, and sleeked its fine whiskers with marvellous 
dexterity. 
