The Origin of Night-blowing Flowers.

ANON.

Long ceased had the blackbird's evening hymn,
And daylight had melted to twilight dim,

And hushed each noisy sound, that could mar
The quiet scene - and but one bright star,
Like a sentinel his watch was keeping
O'er the still earth beneath him sleeping.
Drooped had each flower, and sunk to rest,
Close shrouded in its leafy vest,

Through which the thickly-falling dews
Would to its heart themselves infuse,

And by a breeze so balmy and bland

These slumbering flowers were gently fanned,

That a forward bud which sunbeams had nursed

The livelong day, but had not burst

Yet into life when evening fell,

Now felt its leaves begin to swell,

Till at last it bloomed, a childlike flower

Born at the still of evening's hour.

And it opened its eyes to mark the spot,

Which nature had destined to be its lot;

And it looked around on each kindred flower,
But no rival it found at such an hour;
And it looked below, where the glowworm's lan
Shone on the ground with dewdrops damp;
And it looked above, where that lone star's light
Shone on the blue sky clear and bright,
Till its spirit rejoiced in the quiet night;

And the mild breeze kissed it, and it drew
Deep delight in its bath of dew.

But morn arose - and light came in,
Accompanied by the world's loud din;

And brighter flowers their charms display,
And gone has the star and glowworm's ray,
And all changed the scene, till that flower could bear
No longer to gaze on the glittering glare;
So, beneath its leaves, it folded its eyes
Till the sun should depart, and again arise
That one bright star, and all should be
Hushed in the same tranquillity

As when it awoke to birth and joy,

With no light to dazzle, nor noise to annoy.

Ye are not missed, fair Flowers.

MRS. HEMANS.

Ye are not missed, fair flowers, that late were spreading

The summer's glow by fount and breezy grot;
There falls the dew, its fairy favors shedding,
The leaves dance on, the young birds miss you not.

Still plays the sparkle o'er the rippling water,
O, lily! whence thy cup of pearl is gone;
The bright wave mourns not for its loveliest
daughter,

There is no sorrow in the wind's low tone.

And thou, meek hyacinth! afar is roving

The bee, that oft thy trembling bells hath kissed; Cradled ye were, fair flowers! 'midst all things loving,

A joy to all-yet, yet, ye are not missed! Ye, that were born to lend the sunbeam gladness, And the winds fragrance, wandering where they list!

O, it were breathing words too deep in sadness, To say-earth's human flowers not more are missed.

All flesh is grass, and all its glory fades

Like the fair flower dishevelled in the wind.

COWPER.

SENTIMENTS.

The gentian 's an emblem of virgin pride,

And the aster, of beauty retired;'

The blue-bells, that bloom sweetly in val.eys un

seen,

For constancy 's often admired.

The 'forget-me-not pleads with eloquent looks,' Her love is ever constant and true,

And I love to roam o'er the sweet sunny banks, Where the violets of modesty grew.

The holly comes forth with its tokens of bliss,
And the iris, a message for you;

The lupines in sorrow and sadness pass on,

But the lilac presents something new.

The ivy speaks loud of connubial love;

The marygold plants jealousy there;.

The moss and the woodbine unitedly show
Their parental love and tender care.

The ash in its grandeur stands forth to our view,
While the birches in gracefulness bend;
The bind-weed its words of humility speak,
And the bay-leaf 's unchanged to the end

THE GARDEN DAISY.

LEYDEN.

Star of the mead! sweet daughter of the day,
Whose opening flower invites the morning ray,
From thy moist cheek, and bosom's chilly fold,
To him the tears of eve, the dewdrops cold!
Sweet daisy, flower of love! when birds are paired,
"T is sweet to see thee, with thy bosom bared,
Smiling, in virgin innocence, serene,
Thy pearly crown above thy vest of green.
The lark, with sparkling eye, and rustling wing,
Rejoins his widowed mate in early spring,
And as she prunes his plumes of russet hue,
Swears, on thy maiden blossom, to be true.
Oft have I watched thy closing buds at eve,
Which for the parting sunbeams seemed to grieve,
And, when gay morning gilt the dew-bright plain,
See them unclasp their folded leaves again;
Nor he who sung-'the daisy is so sweet' -
More dearly loved thy pearly form to greet;
When on his scarf the knight the daisy bound,
And dames at tourneys shone, with daisies

crowned,

And fays forsook the purer fields above,
To hail the daisy, flower of faithful love.