OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS 



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BRAVE old flowers! Wall-flowers, 

 Gillyflowers, Stocks! For, even as the 

 field-flowers, from which a trifle, a ray 

 of beauty, a drop of perfume, divides 

 them, they have charming names, the 

 softest in the language; and each of 

 them, like tiny, artless ex-votos, or like 

 medals bestowed by the gratitude of 

 men, proudly bears three or four. You 

 Stocks, who sing among the ruined 

 walls and cover with light the grieving 

 stones ; you Garden Primroses, Primu- 

 las or Cowslips, Hyacinths, Crocuses, 

 Crown Imperials, Scented Violets, Li- 

 lies of the Valley, Forget-me-nots, 

 Daisies and Periwinkles, Poet's Nar- 

 C 15 ] 



