The Daisy

(BELLIS PERENNIS.) Innocence.



Whilst culling the sweet and early flowers, I cannot permit myself to

pass the daisy, that pretty and simple production of nature, so

emblematical of innocence, and which has been immortalized by poets,

ancient and modern.



THE DAISY.



"A nymph demure, of lowly port,

Or sprightly maiden, of Love's court,

In thy s mplicity the sport

Of all temptations;

A queen in crown of rubies dressed,

A starveling in a scanty vest,

Are all, as seems to suit thee best,

Thy appellations.



"I see thee glittering from afar,

And then thou art a pretty star;

Not quite so fair as many are

In heaven above thee;

Yet like a star, with glittering crest,

Self-poised, in air thou seem'st to rest--

May peace come never to his nest,

Who shall reprove thee.



"Sweet flower--for by that name at last,

When all my reveries are past,

I call thee, and to that cleave fast,

Sweet silent creature,

That breath'st with me in sun and air;

Do thou, as thou art wont, repair

My heart with gladness, and a share

Of thy meek nature."

WORDSWORTH.



The daisy may be made entirely white, crimson tipped, or crimson all

over the petals: the latter are cut in single white wax, a strip at once

the width of a sheet of wax. After the petals are coloured, the pin is

deeply indented into each, some in fact are made quite round. The flower

grows single and double, so that there is no decided number required;

this must be left to the taste of the copyists; but if they prefer the

double flower, the eye or centre is scarcely visible. On the contrary,

if it is a single flower that is to be imitated, the eye must be

increased. To form the latter, take a sheet of yellow wax, fold it at

the end the eighth of an inch deep, hold it between the thumb and finger

of the left hand, and with the point of the curling pin indent the edge

closely the whole length, and pass round the end of the middle wire,

letting it rise a little in the centre. The petals are then attached

very closely, and as many as form the double or single flower, whichever

may be preferred. The calyx is green, and placed on similarly to the

petals.



"Wee, modest, crimson-tipped flower

* * * * thou bonnie gem."

BURNS.