thistle's

McQ ----, who was expected to give us an argumentative sermon that morning, until _my_ argument came floating in at the door like a calm little bit of thistledown, to which our previous conversation had been as the thistle's self.

Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science Volume 12, No. 29, August, 1873 Various

And Hahmed, overcome by an almost irresistible longing to take the girl in his arms and hold her close against all dangers and discomforts, suddenly rose to his feet, standing towering over her, and when she held out both her hands, asking to be helped up, leant down and raised her as lightly as though she were of thistle's down.

Desert Love Joan Conquest

Fortunately the day was very calm, and the least disturbance, the fall of the thistle's down, marred the bright surface of the Fiord.

A Yacht Voyage to Norway, Denmark, and Sweden 2nd edition William A. Ross

The light dews rise, sprinkling the thistle's head,

Memoirs of Mary Robinson Mary Elizabeth Robinson 1895

"If thy heart fail thee, climb not at all," might be the ant's passionate outburst to the thistle, and the thistle's reply, instead of a Sir Walter and Queen Elizabeth couplet.

Wild Flowers Worth Knowing Neltje Blanchan 1891

All this tragedy to insure the thistle's cross-fertilized seed that, seated on the autumn winds, shall be blown far and wide in quest of happy conditions for the offspring!

Wild Flowers Worth Knowing Neltje Blanchan 1891

Where scarce the foxglove peeps, or thistle's beard;

AN EVENING WALK ADDRESSED TO A YOUNG LADY 1888

It was like the rising breeze, that whirls, at first, the thistle's beard; then flies, dark-shadowy, over the grass.

David Elginbrod George MacDonald 1864

The blue course of a stream is there! the lonely blast of ocean pursues the thistle's beard.

Specimens with Memoirs of the Less-known British Poets, Volume 3 George Gilfillan 1845

The blue course of a stream is there! the lonely blast of ocean pursues the thistle's beard.

Specimens with Memoirs of the Less-known British Poets, Complete George Gilfillan 1845