176 POETICAL language oe flowers. 
and the hours marked in the unfolding and shutting 
of the blossoms. Morning and evening the village 
maiden kept no other milking time, than by the wak¬ 
ing and sleeping of the Daisy. The mower, as he 
strode forth, with his scythe over his shoulder, to cut 
down the summer flowers, hastened his step if he saw 
that the cup of the Convolvulus had expanded ; and 
when his arm was weary, turned to the hedge, over 
% 
which it trailed in many a fantastic line, for the 
close of his day’s labor was marked by the shutting 
of the Bindweed. The rustic beauty, before she 
went forth to Wake, or Feast, or donned her holi¬ 
day attire, went out and peeped at the scarlet Pimper¬ 
nel ; and if its starry petals were closed, she knew that 
the showers would soon descend, and, sighing, laid 
aside her Sunday garments, until she could see the 
purple spot at the bottom of the expanded flower. 
They knew that Winter was awakening from his 
long sleep, when the Snowdrop and the Crocus ap¬ 
peared ; they dated the coming of Spring from the yel¬ 
low dawning of Primroses upon the banks, and the 
deep flush of Yiolets which lay like a purple cloud 
upon the grass : and when the Roses and Honey¬ 
suckles were in full bloom, they knew that Summer 
