OUR PASTORAL LIFE. 227 



mediates or walk with careful steps by her side, holding by her 

 apron, or gambol around her ; all prattling, and full of innocence and 

 glee, for they are bound to the favourite primrose bank, pranked as 

 gaily as themselves, and just as it were to do honour to the little 

 visitors *. And now they have reached the green bank, which lies 

 faceward in the sun, and is protected on the east by the budding 

 hedgerow. As there is still a little sharpness in the air, the fond 

 sister seeks out a bieldy place where she may seat her charge, while 

 the others go aplaying. One gathers every Daisy until the little 

 hand can grasp no more ; another prefers the Primrose ; another the 

 Buttercup and Blackcaps ; and another deems himself bolder and 

 happier than the rest, for he has ventured into the quaking bog, and 

 has filched therefrom a King-cup and some of its Spinks or Cuckoo- 

 flowers. But the elder has not left her charge. With short and 

 frequent visits, she had long ago filled its lap with her gatherings ; 

 and she now sits beside the pleased wee-thing stringing the daisies 

 into a long and glorious necklace with which she will encircle its 

 neck in two or three rows. And she has next to prepare and deco- 

 rate the naked sprays of the hawthorn broken away from the hedge 

 behind. So she tastefully, as if she were Flora herself, bespankles 

 every branchlet and every spine with a daisy flower, and gives them 

 a beauty that doth indeed delight her admiring flock ; but the 

 biggest sprig is the pride of them all ; it has been more profusely 

 flowered than the others, and all its borrowed blossoms are crimson- 

 tipt blossoms, for it is to be baby's present to the mother. Their 

 task done, they return homewards filled with happiness and family 

 love ; and I have seen the prized floral trophy ornament the window 

 for many a day thereafter. 



My little group are again agog, but this time they are not in their 

 holiday gear ; and as the season is more advanced, and the air is 

 warmer now, the mother permits them a longer stroll, — to another 

 green bank from which a spring wells up to the light its sparkling 

 waters. These find their way down the brae in a runlet overgrown 

 with water-cress, and lose themselves in the bottom, which is con- 

 sequently very soft and very green, and has a spongier space covered 



* " Where 'gainst the rich deep green the Cowslip hangs 

 His elegant bells of purest gold : — the pale 

 Sweet perfumed Primrose lifts its face to heaven, 

 Like the full, artless gaze of infancy : — 

 The httle ray-crown'd Daisy peeps beneath. 

 When the tall neighbour grass, heavy with dew. 

 Bows down its head beneath the freshening breeze ; 

 Where oft in long dark hnes the waving trees 

 Throw their soft shadows on the sunny fields ; 

 Where, in the music-breathing hedge, the Thorn 

 And pearly white May blossom, full of sweets. 

 Hang out the virgin flag of Spring, entwined 

 With dripping Honey-suckles, whose sweet breath 

 Sinks to the heart — recalling, with a sigh. 

 Dim recollected feelings of the days 

 Of youth, and early love." — Atherstone. 



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