■ii8 THE A.SSOCIATIONS OF FLOWERS 
tage, or over its garden palings, yielding its pods lb great 
abundance, and covering, perchance, a happy home with 
its bright garlands. Sometimes it grows wild io quarries 
and woods, but this occurs rarely ; and most botanists 
think it is not a native of Britain. 
But besides the garden peas, we have several very pretty 
wild species in meadows and other rural places. One little 
yellow-flowered pea (Lathyrus pratensis) is very common 
on pasture lands, especially if the soil be moist. Its 
stems are two or three feet long; and it may often be 
seen tangling the lower branches of the thicket which 
borders those delightful little brooks that, like a. line of 
silver, meander along the pathway of our rural walk. 
Beautiful they are 1 stealing by noiselessly, yet diffusing 
freshness wherever they wander : like the voice of kind- 
ness, unheard by the many, yet gladdening those immedi- 
ately under its influence. Now and then sweeping through 
the sedges, they rustle so gently as to invite us to listen 
to their soft music ; or they display the smooth pebbles 
so plainly, through their pellucid waters, as aimo-sf to 
tempt us to linger and drink of the brook by the way. 
I know a stream, a gentle stream, 
Which by a valley glides along. 
That well might suit a poet’s theme. 
Or fit a raptured, minstrel’s song ; 
And often I have stood to look 
On the calm beauty of that brook, 
And thought the scene was such as might 
Have shown upon Creation’s morn. 
When all the morning-stars of light 
Sang joyously that earth was born ; 
And angels, as they paused to see, 
Joined the triumphant jubilee ; 
And God Himself in glory stood, 
.And there pronounced it very goodl'' 
Cattle are very fond of this meadow pea or ^'elchiing, 
and resort to the streams not only to drink the water, 
but to feed on the plant, which often flourishes plentifully 
about their margin, or to lie lazily crouched on the green- 
sw'ard beside the stream. 
