

























202 MY BEST DAYS ARE PAST. 
waters, and metamorphosed her into reeds. It is 
recorded that Pan cut several of these reeds of 
different sizes, and formed 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 ; y 
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 Alison to 
the vigour of youth. This fabulous origin led 
many to suppose, for a long period, 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 marvellous virtues of this plant 












