22 
“ I love to think that my first parents lived in 
that sacred place where your mother Eve took care 
of us, who loved every flower and every green leaf, 
that 
At her coming sprang, 
And touched by her fair tendance, gladlier grew. 
“ But I am very glad, too, that I live in your day. 
Do you know that the bright ribbon that is plaited 
round your dress, owes its saffron tint to one of my 
family ? In ‘ Araby the blest’ they call me Zafa- 
ran ; and I suppose that is the reason that the Moors 
of Spain call me Asafaran and Safra, for they came 
from Arabia ; and that the English call me Saffron, 
for they found me in Asia, which is my native coun¬ 
try. Some of my brothers and sisters, however, 
have been found in Savoy, and that sweet little 
cousin of mine who is dressed in white and purple, 
and whom the French call ‘ Safron printanier,’ is a 
native of Switzerland. She is always most merry 
V- 
