lowers
were so lovely and fresh, for their gentle Mother Nature had washed
their bonnie faces fresh with dew, and so they held their petals up to
catch the sun's brightest rays, which came in golden gleams through the
thickly-leaved hedges above them. What life could possibly be happier?
There were the birds flying about, cheering them with merry twitterings,
as they sped from tree to tree, or perched in the boughs overhead,
warbling ever their songs of gladness. Then the bees would come, and
ask them, in drowsy, murmuring voices, for just a sip of nectar from
their cups, a boon which was never refused, and in return the busy
little workers would leave them some pollen to colour their petals, and
render them (if it were possible) more lovely than before. The
butterflies, too, would alight on their leaves, and display their
brilliant hues for their admiration, or the gay dragon-flies would fly
about them in that wandering fashion peculiar to those gorgeous insects,
darting hither and thither like flashes of rainbow light. At night the
moonlight would kiss their weary eyes to sleep, whilst the soft
night-breezes soothed them to rest with murmuring lullabies.

It is true there were storms sometimes, and the cold rain would fall
upon them; but still they were sheltered from all fierce tempests, and
would rise up refreshed after the dark clouds had passed away, for they
knew

'Behind the clouds the sun's still shining.
* * * * *
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary;'

and as to the summer showers, why, they tossed their heads, and laughed
merrily at them, shaking the light rain-drops from their petals in
playful fun.

But on this morning, when the tiny Wild-flower was making her life
miserable by useless repinings at her humble lot, and sighing for--she
knew not what!--well, on this same morning there was not a cloud to dim
the sky, so brightly blue was it, and the soft west wind crept among the
leaves and flowers, whispering to them the glad tidings of 'Summer is
come!'

I do not know how long it was after the little girl had passed, that a
gentleman came sauntering slowly up the lane; and as he went, he would
stop every now and then to examine the hedgerow flowers and shrubs. All
at once he espied our friend, almost hidden though she was by the leaves
and long grass around.

'What a lovely little flower!' he exclaimed, as he stooped