RAMBLES AMONG WILD-FLOWEES. 
RAMBLES AMONG WILD-FLOWERS. 
" Gather the rose-buds while ye may, 
Old Time is still a-flying ; 
And the same flower that smiles to-day, 
To-morroAV may ho dying." 
KHHUS simg Herrick, one of the most charming of our lyi-ic poets ; and -^vith him we say, " gather 
iV the flowers while we may," lest we resemble the blind man in Goethe's Werter, who, wandering 
about in the depth of Winter, complained that he could flaid no blossoms. Truly there is an appointed 
season for the bu'th, and death, and regeneration of aU that lives,' — aye, even of the most ephemeral. 
The earth is redolent of vitality ; and scarcely have the winter snows melted into the soil, when 
" Each flower and herb on earth's dark breast. 
Awakes from the di-eam of its wintry rest ! " 
And now the lover of Natm'e may go forth on his rambles, and almost listen, as poor Keats imagined, 
to the young buds leaping into life, not forgetting —for a vein of philosophy will mingle with the 
reflections of all sound natm-alists — that this universal regeneration is but a type of human destiny. 
Well, too, may he exclaim, with a healthful, joyous feeling of exultation, — 
" How beautiful is all this visible world ! 
How glorious in its action and itself!" 
And IS IT NOT beautiful ? Accompany us, kind reader, where you will, along the pathway of the open 
meadow, down among the shadows of the copse, through which the village stream winds, murmm-ing 
and half hid, and we shall find a silent beauty impressed on all that we behold. Nay, even in these 
early days of the young year, some Wild-flowers are found to tempt om- walk ; yet, for the most 
part, the commencement of February has so few charms for the botanist, that he has little inclination 
to leave bis warm abode, and, with Fletcher, be rather says : — 
" Give me 
Leave to enjoy myself. That place that does 
Contain my books — the best companions — is 
To me a glorious com't, where lonely I 
Converse with the old sages and philosophers." 
But still, if he will venture out, he finds much that will repay liim. On the chalky soils of England, 
and in woods and thickets that are well sheltered, he will find our indigenous Hellebore ; and if he be 
a classic, he will remember that the ancients often made use of it, not only to cm-e disorders of the mind, 
but to give strength and vigour to the imagination. Valerius Maximus tells us that Carneades, the 
philosopher, when he was engaged in a dispute with Chrysippus, always prepared himself with a dose 
of it, and " that the success of it was such, as made all who were desirous of solid j^raise follow the 
example." If he be wise, however, he \vill take none of it. As the " Clmstmas Rose," the Hellebore 
is more dear to us : 
Triumphant over Winter's power 
It cheers om' hopeful sight, 
'Midst chilKng snows, with blossoms fair 
Of pure and spotless white. 
About the end of February, we may expect to find the Marsh Marigold ( Caltlia palustris) orna- 
menting, with its fine yellow blossom, the open marshes, and the sides of muddy streams. It is not 
abundantly in bloom, however, until somewhat late in the Spring ; and in the low grounds of Lapland 
and Sweden, where largo tracts of land are coloured with its flowers, it is seldom in perfection 
before May. Its blossoms, if boiled in alum-water, are said to give a good dye to paper. As food 
for cattle it is rarely taken, unless when other herbage is not obtainable, since it partalies of the acrid 
properties of its allies, the Ranunculus family. 
Growing under the low brushwood amid decaying remains of last year's foKage, the devout admirer 
of Flora, now and then, may find the modest Chickweed {Stellaria media) sending forth a trifling 
tribute to the garland which may be made at this early season of the year ; to which also the Groundsel 
(Senecio vulgaris) and the Colt's-foot (Tussilar/o farfara) lend their feeble and unassuming aid. The 
Dandelion, too, [Leontodon Taraxacum,) with bolder aspect, gives all the assistance in its power to 
make the road-sides and waste lands, so lately snow-clad, look cheerful, reminding us of coming 
Summer. These last two plants are of much higher importance than any one would imagine, fi'om 
then' lowly growth and weed-like appearance. The first fm-nishes a useful remedy for coughs ; while 
jfl]\| the second, in the physician's hands, is often very beneficially employed. 
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