90 



FLORA'S LEXICON. 



ORSE. Vlex Europaus. Class 17, DIA- 

 DELPHIA. Order : DECANDR.IA. The bota- 

 nical name Vlex is obscuro ; we call it in- 

 discriminately Furze, Gorse or Whin. The 

 common wild Gorse of England, in St. Pe- 

 tersburg" is cherished in the choicest green- 

 houses, and esteemed one of their most 

 precious ornaments, as it flowers in winter. In England the 

 commons are covered in the richest profusion with its gay, beau- 

 tiful, and fragrant flowers. 



CHEERFULNESS IN ADVERSITY. 



Fair maidens, I'll sing you a song; 



I'll tell you the bonny wild flower, 

 Whose blossoms so yellow, and branches so long, 

 O'er moor and o'er rough rocky mountain are flung, 



Far away from trim garden and bower. 



It clings to the crag, and it clothes the wild hill; 



It stands sturdily breasting the storm, 

 When the loud-voiced winds sing so drearily shrill, 

 And the snow-flakes in eddies fall silent and still, 



And the shepherd can scarce wrap him warm. 



'T is the bonny bright Gorse, that gleams cheerily forth, 



Like sunlight e'er lingering here, 

 In the verdure of Spring, and when Summer on earth 

 Has call'd all the fairest of blossoms to birth, 



As a crown for the noon of the year. 



TWAMLEY. 



And her against sweet cheerfulness was placed, 

 Whose eyes, like twinkling stars in evening clear, 

 Were deck'd with smiles, that all sad humours chased, 

 And darted forth delights, the which her goodly graced. 



SPENSER. 



