68 
seeiu to have melted their way, dissolving their glittering veil 
to come blushing again into sunshine. The white and pink 
varieties of the Pyrus Japonica are also very beautiful, but have 
not the rich and glowing splendour of my fairy favourite, which, 
through the months of late Autumn, Winter, and early Sjuing, 
when so few of our garden darlings venture to look upon the 
dreary earth, clothes the supporting wall or ti’ellis with its 
cheering and vivid beauty, being, in this respect, more worthy 
our esteem than most of om- foreign acquisitions, which gene¬ 
rally require the additional warmth and shelter of the stove or 
conservatory. 
The next gem of my floral chaplet is one of classic fame; 
one of the many fair flow'ers around which mythological fable 
has thrown its quaint legendary garb : even its botanical name 
brings a dream of romance with it — JVarcissus Poeticus. Our 
own merry, dancing dafl'odil claims kindred with the Narcissi; 
and who does not love the daffodils, 
That come before the swallow dares, and take 
The winds of March with beauty ? 
What a mine of wealth a bank sprinkled thickly with their 
bright golden crests and waving leaves seemed to us in child¬ 
hood ! And, if only precious as the memories of such innocent 
delight, W'e must love them still. Of modern Bards, however 
great, I have forbidden myself to speak, but what can be more 
beautiful, in thought, expression, and melody, than these sweet 
verses of Robert Plerrick’s i* 
