"And there, before the little bench,
O'ershadowed by the bower,
Grow southernwood and lemon thyme,
Sweet-pea and gillyflower;
"And pinks and clove carnations,
Rich-scented, side by side;
And at each end a holly-hock,
With an edge of London-pride.
"I had marigolds and columbines,
And pinks all pinks exceeding;
I'd a noble root of love-in-a-mist,
And plenty of love-lies-bleeding."
There was a bed of herbs, too, which my mother cherished—sweet-marjoram and summer savory, sage, rue, and rosemary.
Winnie took a great interest in all of these plants. The country girls thought it odd that she should care for the wild plants which were so common in our vicinity, not knowing Winnie's enthusiasm for botany, and her desire to make a large collection to show the princess. An unusually ignorant girl met her on one of her botanizing expeditions, and Winnie asked her if maiden-hair grew in our region. "Of course it does!" the girl replied, indignantly; "you didn't s'pose we all wore wigs, did you?"
It was some time before Winnie could control herself and explain that the maiden-hair of which she was in search was a kind of fern.
"Do you want it for a charm?" the girl asked.
"No," replied Winnie; "what will it do?"
"If you put it in your shoe and say the right kind of a charm, you will understand the language of the birds."
"Then I shall certainly try it," said Winnie, "for that would be great fun."