Stray Leaves from a Border Garden 
a year, of a white blackbird by the owner to his feudal 
superior. 
March 14. — The Romans called this month after the 
god of war, Mars : was it because of the warring of the 
winds ? The Anglo-Saxons called it the wild or stormy 
month, Hlyd monath, and also the spring month, Lenct 
monath. Perhaps that is the reason why the daffodil used 
to be called Lent lily. 
March 20. — I found on a sheltered bank to-day in the 
“ plantin ” (plantation) some tiny blue stars of periwinkle ; 
“ sorcerer’s violets ” is the quaint old name for them, also 
“ pervinkle,” from Pervincere, to overcome, because it is not 
vanquished by the cold of the winter. Pervinca is the 
Portuguese name. I have also discovered a colony of 
winter heliotrope or sweet white coltsfoot ( Petasites vulgaris ) 
growing on the bank above the snowdrops. I believe it is 
rather capricious in its choice of a haunt. I am glad it 
likes to live with me. “ Son afore the father ” is the old 
Scotch name for it. 
How beautiful are the Snowdrops, a perfect sheet of 
white, nodding their drooping heads in the wind and 
literally scenting the air ! My correspondents must think 
me mad. I can write no letter without singing the praises 
of my “ White Babies,” as Boy calls them — Schneetrop- 
fen or Schneeglockchen, as the Germans call them : little 
snowbells. In Sussex it is said to be unlucky to bring 
the first snowdrop into the house, as it is thought like a 
corpse in a shroud. Here is a little snowdrop song I 
wrote in the book called “Ye Booke of Ye Baby ” I have 
gathered of Rhymes and Jingles for Boy. How he loves 
to be sung to ! When it grows too dark to see to play, a 
tired wee laddie comes creeping to mother’s knee, and 
the fire is poked to give us “Queen’s light.” 
“ Sing, mammy ” : 
Dark, dark, dark, 
Down in the soft warm earth 
Naked Baby sleep cosily, 
Jack Frost can’t catch ’ee ! 
12 
