210 
ORACLE. 
The dandelion flower is used for Love’s 
oracle. If you are separated from the ob¬ 
ject of your affection, gently detach one of 
these transparent spheres,— each little fea¬ 
ther that composes it is charged with a tender 
thought. Turn towards the spot inhabited 
by your beloved: blow softly, and every little 
winged traveller, like a faithful messenger, 
shall bear your secret homage to her feet. 
If desirous of knowing whether the object so 
dear thinks of you now you are absent, blow 
again, and if there remain one tuft, it is a 
sign you are not forgotten. But the second 
charm should be done with care ; blow very 
gently; for at any age, even at that age which 
is most congenial to love, it is not well for 
our peace that we should too rudely disperse 
the pleasing illusions which embellish life. 
Miss Landon wrote some very beautiful 
lines on seeing an illustration of the garden 
scene in Goethe’s Faust, where Margaret 
plucks a star-like flower to divine the real 
sentiments of her lover. They are called 
“ The Decision of the Flower.” 
And with scarlet poppies around, like a bower, 
The maiden found her mystic flower; 
“ Now, gentle flower, I pray thee tell 
If my lover loves me, and loves me well; 
So may the fall of the morning dew 
Keep the sun from fading thy tender blue. 
Now I number the leaves for my lot — 
He loves not—he loves me—he loves me not— 
