Though no warm, or murmuring zephyr. 

 Fan thy leaves with bahiiy wing: 



PleasM, we hail thee, spotless blossom. 

 Herald of the infant Spring. 



Through the cold, and cheerless season. 

 Soft thy tender form expands. 



Safe in unaspiring graces. 



Foremost of the bloomy bands. 



White-robM flower, in lonely beauty, 



Rising from a wintry bed ; 

 Chilling winds, and blasts ungenial, 



lludely threat ning round thy head. 



Silv'ry bud, thy pensile foliage. 

 Seems the angry blall to fear; 



Yet secure, thy tender texture 

 Ornaments the rising year. 



No warm tints, or vivid colouring. 

 Paints thy bells with gaudy pride ; 



Mildly charmed, we seek thy fragrance 

 Where no thorns insidious hide. 



Tis not thine, with flaunting beauty. 



To attract the roving sight ; 

 Nature, from her varied wardrobe. 



Chose thy vest of purest white. 



White, as falls the fleecy shower. 

 Thy soft form in sweetness grows; 



Not more fair the valley's treasure. 

 Nor more sweet, her Lily blows. 



Drooping harbinger of Flora, 

 Simply are thy blossoms drest ; 



Artless, as the gentle virtues, 



Mansion'd in the blameless breast. 



Cordelia Skeeles. 



