The Canadian Horticulturist. 



367 



GATHERED LILIES. 



My Beloved is gone down into His garden to gather lilies."— Cant, vi : 2. 



^ EAUTIFUL flowers, in wreath and boquet, 

 On casket containing one fairer than they ; 

 A flower celestial, that earthward did stray, 

 To gladden with beauty and fragrance its day ; 

 To bloom, and then wither, and vanish away 

 From earth's cold and darkness, to heaven's bright day. 



Beautiful flower, more precious than gold. 



Or jewels, — of worth that can never be told ; 



A flower that drew its rich life from a heart 



That breaks in its clinging, and effort to part 



From its dear cherished treasure, — ah me, let me fold 



Thee again to my bosom ; — oh, death, thou art cold ! 



Beautiful flower — pale lily to-day. 

 It was like to a beautiful rose bud in May ; 

 Alas, that such beauties so transient should be, 

 And pleasures and hopes should so suddenly flee ; 

 But thanks to the wisdom that orders in love, 

 And gathers our lilies for gardens above. 



W. H. Porter. 

 Brantford^ August^ 18^4. 



