4 
Lettuce. 
Lactuca sativa. Natura Orver: Composite—Aster Family. 
« 
the first to appear on the table in spring, when man as well as 
beast hungers for the green things of the field. Of the many 
kinds, each puts forward some especial claim to our attention, 
from the loose, curled leaves of the one, to the close, compact 
SSheads of the other; but crisp and tender they must be, to 
form the appetizing salads of which they are the chief ingredient. 
They are of very ancient cultivation, as they are mentioned by several 
Latin authors, and the selling of lettuce formed the occupation of people 
in those days as now in our own. Lettuce dealers were called Lactu- 
carius, though they probably sold other vegetables. After the season 
Cc jis over, the plants are allowed to go to seed. The stalk is about two 
' feet high, filled with a milky juice; and the flowers are a pale yellow, 
numerous, but rather small in size. 
Gold Hearted. 
HAVE not from your eyes that gentleness 
And show of love, as I was wont to have. 
—Shakespeare. 
OUR coldness I heed not, your frown I defy; IS heart was all on honor bent, 
Your affection I need not —the time has gone by, He could not stoop to love; 
When a blush or a smile on that cheek could beguile No lady in the land had power 
My soul from its safety, with witchery’s smile. His frozen heart to move. 
—Mrs. Osgood. —Anonymous. 
OT the basilisk 
More deadly to the sight, than is to me 
The cool, ingenious eye of frozen kindness. 
—Gay. 
OUR breast is heaped like mountain snows, I do not flatter like a fool — 
Your cheek is like a blushing rose, The diamond is a cutting tool, 
Your eyes are black as ripened sloes, The rose is thorny, snow is cool, 
\ Like diamonds do they glitter. And sloes are very bitter. 
A 187 
xs 
