THE earliest harbingers of spring, 

 that " come before the swallow 

 dares," are some of the " dwell- 

 ers of the dust" that have lain the 

 sullen winter through, waiting for 

 the warming sun to draw them above 

 the ground. First to appear is the 

 snowdrop, " Fair maid of February," 

 -as it is sometimes named, bearing 

 with drooping head the cruel fate 

 which calls it " unlucky." 



Then come the crocuses, timid little 

 creatures that hug close to Mother 

 Earth for the sake of the warmth her 

 broad bosom aifords. Purple and 

 gold, pure white, or faintly streaked 

 with lavender, they do not seem to 

 need the sheltering protection of 

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