"Once upon a time," said the Linnet, "there was an honest little fellow named Hans."

  "Was he very distinguished?" asked the Water-rat.

  "No," answered the Linnet, "I don't think he was distinguished at all, except for his kind heart, and his funny round good-humoured face. He lived in a tiny cottage all by himself, and every day he worked in his garden. In all the country-side there was no garden so lovely as his. Sweet-william grew there, and Gilly-flowers, and Shepherds'-purses, and Fair-maids of France. There were damask Roses, and yellow Roses, lilac Crocuses, and gold, purple Violets and white Columbine and Ladysmock, Marjoram and Wild Basil, the Cowslip and the Flower-de-luce, the Daffodil and the Clove-Pink bloomed or blossomed in their proper order as the months went by, one flower taking another flower's place, so that there were always beautiful things to look at, and pleasant odours to smell.

 

 

【词汇简析】

sweet-william n. 美洲石竹

gilly-flower n. 紫罗兰

fair-maids n. 松雪草

liac crocuses n. 番红花