"Nurse, I heard mamma say that the Britons who lived in England were once savages, and lived in caves, huts, and thick woods; that they dressed in skins, and painted their bodies like the Indians."
"When you read the history of England, you will see that such was the case," said Mrs. Frazer.
"Nurse, perhaps the little birds like to see the flowers, and the sunshine, and the blue sky, and men's houses. I will make my garden very pretty this spring, and plant some nice flowers, to please the dear little birds."
Many persons would have thought such remarks very foolish in our little lady. But Mrs. Frazer, who was a good and wise woman, did not laugh at the little girl; for she thought it was a lovely thing to see her wish to give happiness to the least of God's creatures, for it was imitating his own goodness and mercy, which delight in the enjoyment of the things which he has called into existence.
"Please, Mrs. Frazer, will you tell me which flowers will be first in bloom?"
"The very first is a plant that comes up without leaves."
"Nurse, that is the Christmas-rose. [Footnote: Winter Aconite] I have seen it in the old country."
"No, Lady Mary; it is the colt's-foot. [Footnote: Tussilago Fartara] It is a common-looking, coarse, yellow-blossomed flower: it is the first that blooms after the snow. Then comes the pretty snow flower, or hepatica. Its pretty tufts of white, pink, or blue starry flowers may be seen on the open clearing, or beneath the shade of the half cleared woods or upturned roots and sunny banks. Like the English daisy, it grows everywhere, and the sight of its bright starry blossoms delights every eye. The next flower that comes in is the dog's tooth violet." [Footnote: Erythronium]
"What a droll name!" exclaimed Lady Mary, laughing.
"I suppose it is called so from the sharpness of the flower leaves (petals), my lady, but it is a beautiful yellow lily. The leaves are also pretty, they are veined or clouded with milky white or dusky purple. The plant has a bulbous root, and in the month of April sends up its single, nodding, yellow spotted flowers. They grow in large beds, where the ground is black, moist, and rich, near creeks on the edge of the forest."