FLORA'S LEXICON. 



125 



ILY OF THE VALLEY. Convallaria ma- 

 jalis. Class 6, HEXANDRIA. Order : Mo- 

 NOGVNIA. This lowly plant loves the shel- 

 ter of the hollow valleys, the shade of oaks, 

 or the cool banks of streams. 



The " Naiad-like lily of the vale, whose 

 tremulous bells are seen through their pa- 

 vilions of tender green," should form a part of every wreath that 

 crowns the happy, the innocent and the gay. 



Keats has assigned a diadem to this lowly plant : 

 No flower amid the garden fairer grows 

 Than the sweet lily of the lowly vale, 

 The queen of flowers. 



RETURN OF HAPPINESS. 



That white hand is withdrawn, that fair, sad face is gone ; 

 But the music of that silver voice is flowing sweetly on, 

 Not, as of late, with cheerful tones, but mournfully and low, 

 A ballad of a tender maid heart-broken long ago, 

 Of him who died in battle, the youthful and the brave, 

 And her who died of sorrow upon his early grave. 



But see, along that rugged path, a fiery horseman ride ; 

 See the torn plume, the tarnish'd belt, the sabre at his side ; 

 His spurs are in his horse's sides, his hand casts loose the rein ; 

 There 's sweat upon the streaming flank, and foam upon the 



mane; 



He sper ds toward that olive bower, along the shaded hill : 

 God shield the hapless maiden there, if he should mean her ill. 



And suddenly the song has ceased, and suddenly I hear 

 A shriek sent up amid the shade a shriek but not of fear ; 

 For tender accents follow, and tenderer pauses speak 

 The overflow of.gladness when words are all too weak : 

 " I lay my good sword at thy feet, for now Peru is free, 

 And I am come to dwell beside the olive grove with thee." 



BRYANT. 



11 



