VI 

 The Primrose 



WHAT a change there is in 

 turning from the Cowslip 

 to the Primrose ! This last 

 seems the very flower of 

 delicacy and refinement ; not that it 

 shrinks from our notice, for few plants 

 are more easily seen, coming as it does 

 when there is a dearth of flowers, when 

 the first birds are singing, and the first 

 bees humming, and the earliest green 

 putting forth in the March and April 

 woods. And it is one of those plants 

 which dislikes to be looking cheerless, 

 but keeps up a smouldering fire of 

 blossom, from the very opening of the 

 year, if the weather will permit. The 

 source of its expression is a little dif- 

 ficult to trace, arising from a subtle 

 combination of certain finer elements 

 which are more decided, or else awant- 

 ing, in the Cowslip. 

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