THE 



A'C^i^^t^^^^f:'^^^^ 



JOURNAL OF RURAL ART AND RURAL TASTE. 



Vol. III. 



AUGUST, 1848. 



No. 2. 



Afresh bouquet of midsummer roses stands 

 upon the table before us. The morning 

 dew-drops hang-, heavy as emeralds, upon 

 branch and buds ; soft and rich colours 

 delight the eye with their lovely hues, and 

 that rose-odor, which, every one feels, has 

 not lost anything of its divine sweetness 

 since the first day the flower bloomed in 

 that heaven-garden of Eve, fills the air. 

 Yes, the flowers have it ; and if we are not 

 fairly forced to say something this month 

 in behalf of roses, tken was Dr. Darwin 

 mistaken in his theory of vegetable mag- 

 netisin. 



We believe it was that monster, the 

 Duke of Guise, who always made his es- 

 cape at the sight of a rose. If there are any 

 "outside barbarians" of this stamp among 

 the readers of our " flowery land," let them 

 glide out while the door is open. They 

 deserve to be drowned in a butt of attar of 

 rose — the insensibles ! We can well aflbrd 

 to let them go, indeed ; for we feel that we 

 have only to mention the name of a rose, 

 to draw more closely around us the thou- 

 sands of the fairer and better part of our 

 readers, with whom it is the type of every- 

 thing fair and lovely on earth, 



" Dear flower of heaven and love ! thou glorious ihing 

 That lookest out the garden nooks among ; 

 Hose, that art ever fair and ever young ; 



Vol. hi. 4 



Was it some angel on invisible wing 

 Hover'd around thy fragrant sleep, to fling 

 His glowing mantle of warm sunset hues 

 O'er thy unfolding petals, wet vvilh dews, 

 Such as the flower-fays to Tilania bring ? 



flower of thousand memories and dreams, 

 That take the heart with faintness, while we gaze 

 On the rich depths of thy inwoven maze ; 



From the green banks of Eden's blessed streams 



1 dream'd tliee brought, of brighter days to tell 

 Long pass'd, but promised yet with us to dwell." 



If there is any proof necessary, that the 

 rose has a diviner origin than all other 

 flowers, it is easily found in the unvarying 

 constancy of mankind to it for so many 

 long centuries. Fashions there have been 

 innumerable, in ornaments of all sorts, 

 from simple sea-shells, worn by Nubian 

 maidens, to costly diamonds, that height- 

 en the charms of the proudest court beau- 

 ty — silver, gold, precious stones — all have 

 their season of favor, and then again 

 sink into comparative neglect ; but a 

 simple rose has ever been and will ever 

 be the favorite emblem and adornment of 

 beauty. 



'• AVhatsoe'er of beauty 

 Yearns, and yet reposes, 

 Blush, and bosom, and sweet breath, 

 Took a shape in roses."' Leigh Hu.m. 



Now the secret of this perpetual and 

 undying charm about the rose, is not to be 

 found in its colour — there are bright lilies, 

 and gay tiger flowers, and dazzling air- 



