CHOICE. 



207 



gifts, it adds to its other qualities a delightful perfume, 

 which alone would suffice to entitle it to a distinguished 

 place among the beautiful and pleasant things of the vege- 



table kingdom. 



FLORA'S CHOICE. 



When Flora, from her azure home, 

 Came gently down to grace the earth, 

 She called around her every sprite 

 To which the sunny air gives birth. 

 And bade them search each distant realm 

 Of tropic heat or temperate clime. 

 From cold New England's rocky hills 

 To Santa Crusian groves of lime, 

 And bring each iloweret, rich and rare, 

 For her to choose her fworite there. 



Quick flew the sprites o'er land and sea, 

 Through cloud, and mist, and storm afar, 

 Catching, with rapid, eagle glance. 

 The beauties of each opening flower : 

 From Alpine heights they bore a prize. 

 From Persia and from Hindostan ; 

 For many a bud of beauty rare 

 They searched the central, flowery land, 

 And, filled with treasures rich and sweet, 

 They hasten'd to their mistress' feet. 



Camellia, with its lustrous white 

 And glossy leaves of emerald hue ; 



