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robes, is nearly hollow, and the water which my 
roots imbibe from the ground rises through it to 
nourish my little friend. He breakfasts here every 
morning, for as fast as he sips one drop, another 
supplies its place. 
“ I have heard those flowers talking to you, and 
speaking of my country, where they seem to think 
they are of great importance. It is very true that 
the gaudy colors of the flaunting Tulips attract much 
attention, and the fragrance of the Hyacinths is very 
agreeable to some people. But the Tulips are very 
flippant, talking all the time of their former impor¬ 
tance and the festivals in Turkey. 
“ Did you ever see a king, little girl ? I have 
never seen one in this country, but in Persia they 
sometimes wear a crown to which I bear some re¬ 
semblance, and from which I take my name. Bot¬ 
anists, I know, call me Frittilaria, from some fancied 
6 
