78 , THE ASSOCIATIONS OF FLOWERS 
little gleaner^ sounds as an invitation to wander in the 
country. It is in bloom during the whole of the summer, 
and although var\ing considerably in size and colour, it 
is easily distinguished from any other species of violet, 
and is always shaped like the garden heart’s-ease. It is 
commonly a small flower, of a delicate sulphur colour, 
with a little spot of purple on its lowest petal. 
The yellow mountain violet (Viola lutea), though 
usually of a pale yellow, is sometimes found with its 
petals of a deep purple, or of a mingled tint. This 
species is always much larger than that of the corn-field, 
and is peculiar to mountainous pastures. It is common 
in Scotland and Wales, and in the northern parts of 
England, but unknown in the more level districts of 
southern counties. 
Our garden pansies have been introduced hither from 
various parts of the continent. Germany, Switzerland, 
and France have furnished us with several kinds; and 
the cold Siberia, which has contributed so little to our 
garden-bed, has yet yielded us the pansy. 
Pansy, heart’s-ease, three-faces-under-a-hood, herb- 
trinity, kit-run-about, and love-and-idleness, are among 
the many names by which this flower is familiarly known. 
Owing to its power of throwing its seed to a- distance, 
the plant often quite overruns the garden, and intrudes 
itself where most unwelcome. 
If we pause to look upon a neglected spot of ground, 
once a garden, and still “ where many a garden-flower 
grows wild,” we are sure to find the pansy. I have 
seen garden pansies scattered over a field, which was 
near a large garden-ground, so plentifully, as to give it 
in spots quite a purple colour. Miss Martineau tells us 
that many kinds are common in meadows in America, 
and says, that as early as February, the fields about 
Washington are quite gay with their flowers. 
In the Midsummer Night’s Dream the poet alludes to 
this flower. After describing the uselessness of Cupid’s 
aim at the heart of the maiden queen, the poet says, 
« Yet marked I, where the bolt of Cupid fell, 
It fell upon a little western flower, ^ 
Before milk-white, now purpled with love’s wound, 
And maidens call it Love in Idleness.” 
