204 
LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
MEADOW SAFFRON. 
MX BEST BATS ABE PAST. 
Whek the leaves begin to fall from the trees, a 
flower resembling the crocus springs up amidst the 
grass of the damp meadows : hut, instead of being, 
like a crocus, the harbingef'of joy and hope, it pro¬ 
claims to all Nature that the bright days of summer 
are over. I’his flower is the Meadow Saffron, or 
Colchicum autumnale, supposed to be so named 
from Colchis, in Asia, where it is said to grow in 
abundance. 
According to fabulous history, this autumnal 
flower owes its origin to some drops of the magic 
liquor, prepared by Medea to restore the aged JDson 
to the bloom and vigour of youth, which were spilt 
in the fields. 
The foamingjuir.es now the brink o’erswell: 
The barren heath, where’er the liquor fell 
Sprang out with vernal grass, and all the pride 
Of blooming May. 
Tate’s Ovid. 
