Part 48

DRAKE.

27. A tulip just open'd, offering to hold A butterfly gaudy and gay, Or rocking its cradle of crimson and gold, Where the careless young slumberer lay.

MISS GOULD.

28. She comes--the first, the fairest thing That heaven upon the earth doth fling, Ere winter's star has set; She dwells behind her leafy screen, And gives as angels give--unseen,-- The violet!

BARRY CORNWALL.

29. The rich magnolia, High priestess of the flowers, whose censer fills The air.

MRS. SIGOURNEY.

30. CEREUS, Who wastes on night's dull eye a blaze of charms.

DARWIN.

31. The scarlet creeper's bloom, When 'midst her leaves the humbird's varying dyes Sparkle like half-seen fairy eyes.

DR. S. H. DICKSON.

32. You love the sweet GERANIUM'S smell, Its scollop'd leaves, and crimson flower; Of days long passed it seems to tell, And memory owns its magic power.

MISS MARIA JAMES.

33. The wayside weed of homeliest hue, Looking erect up to the golden blue. For thus it speaketh to the thinking mind-- "O'erlook me not: I for a purpose grew; On us one sunshine falls!"

THOMAS MILLER.

34. The last violet That sheds its fragrance on the chill, damp air Of a November morn, like love in death.

LADY FLORA HASTINGS.

35. The peony, with drooping head, Which blows a transient hour, And gently shaken in the breeze, Descends a crimson shower.

MISS MARIA JAMES.

36. The blue fleur-de-lis, in the warm sunlight shining, As if grains of gold in its petals were set.

MARY HOWITT.

37. The pale and delicate narcissus' flowers, Bending so languidly, as still they found In the pure wave a love and destiny.

MISS LANDON.

38. The violet's azure eye, Which gazes on the sky, Until its hue grows like what it beholds.

SHELLEY.

39. The evening primrose, O'er which the wind might gladly take a pleasant sleep, But that 'tis ever startled by the leap Of buds into fresh flowers.

KEATS.

40. The clematis, all graceful and fair; You may set it like pearls in the folds of your hair.