202 MY BEST DAYS ARE PAST. 
her into its waters, and metamorphosed her 
into reeds. It is recorded that Pan cut seve¬ 
ral of these reeds of different sizes, and form¬ 
ed thereof the first shepherd’s pipe. 
MY BEST DAYS ARE PAST. 
MEADOW SAFFRON. 
When summer is rapidly departing, this 
flower, which closely resembles the spring 
saffron, is seen in bloom amid the verdure of 
our meadows. It is the autumnal colchicum ; 
and though like the spring saffron in appear¬ 
ance, how unlike in its import; the former 
brings us joy and hope, while the latter an¬ 
nounces the speedy termination of the bright 
and lovely days of summer. 
The ancients believed that, coming from 
the fields of Colchis, it owed its birth to some 
drops of the magic liquor Medea is said to 
have prepared, in order to restore the aged 
iEson to the vigour of youth. This fabulous 
origin led many to suppose, for a long pe¬ 
riod, that the plant was a sure preservative 
against all manner of diseases. The Swiss 
encircle the necks of their children with this 
flower, and believe that they protect them from 
every evil. The false opinion of the marvel- 
