200 
twelve feet in length, covering it like a carpet. 
“ But other flowers call you,” said she ; “ I will de¬ 
tain you only to say, that sparrows love our seeds.” 
Mary wished she would tell how the sparrows got 
them out of the water, but the Pond-lily spoke no 
more. 
Long did the little girl linger around this charmed 
spot. The flowers were just far enough from her to 
be inaccessible, yet she could see them and inhale 
their sweets, and was never tired of gazing at their 
wonderful beauty. 
The bud-like Gentians grew on the edges of the 
lake, and farther on, in drier places, stood many of 
the fringed ones. 
A few yellow Gerardias, which still remained, 
formed a pleasing contrast with the deep purple 
Gentians, who told Mary that, their virtue was first 
discovered by Gentius, a king of Illyria, from whom 
