secretary's budget. 359 



I can see her there with her hymn-book 



Open at "Wells" or "Mear," 

 With a bunch of her garden "posies " 



Between the leaves, and hear 

 The voice that has sung in heaven 



For many and many a year. 



Grandmother gave her flowers 



To crown the maiden's head 

 When she stood at the marriage altar 



And a wife's " I will " was said ; 

 And they came to her for blossoms 



To shut in the hands of the dead. 



I remember the summer morning 



When grandmother heard the call. 

 Of the angel of death whose summons 



Will some day come to us all ; 

 The June's first roses were blowing 



Down by the garden wall. 



" How sweet they are," she whispered, 



" What dear things God has made : 

 I am going to dwell in His country, 



Where the roses never fade." 

 Then she folded her hands on her bosom 



And it seemed as if she prayed. 



She looked so peaceful and happy 



With her hands clasped on her breast, 

 Holding the flowers we brought her 



That we fancied her taking a rest ; 

 'Twas the rest that's forever and ever, 



Of all, the sweetest, best. 



Over her grave in the churchyard 



Her dear old flowers grow ; 

 But I think of her out in the garden 



Of God, where His lillies grow ; 

 And I fancy she tends His flowers 



As she used to here below. 



— Eben E. Rexford in Ladies' Floral Cabinet. 



ARRANGING CUT FLOWERS. 



An article in St. Nicholas on arrangement of flowers contains the 

 following directions, which may be read by all who love flowers, and 

 have not the knack of arranging them to the best advantage in 

 bouquets and vases on the table : 



