62 WITH HERBS AND FLOWERS 



What next ? a tuft of evening primroses, 



O'er which the mind may hover till it dozes ; 



O'er which it well might take a pleasant sleep, 



But that 'tis ever startled by the leap 



Of buds into ripe flowers ; or by the flitting 



Of divers moths, that aye their rest are quitting ; 



Or by the moon lifting her silver rim 



Above a cloud, and with a gradual swim 



Coming into the blue with all her light. 



JOHN KEATS. 



GARDEN FLOWERS 



(From " Star Papers ") 



As for marigolds, poppies, hollyhocks, and valorous 

 sunflowers, we shall never have a garden without 

 them, both for their own sake, and for the sake of 

 old-fashioned folks, who used to love them. Morn- 

 ing-glories or, to call them by their city name, the 

 convolvulus need no praising. The vine, the leaf, 

 the exquisite vase-formed flower, the delicate and 

 various colours, will secure it from neglect while 

 taste remains. Grape blossoms and mignonette do 

 not appeal to the eye ; and if they were selfish, no 

 man would care for them. Yet because they pour 

 their life out in fragrance they are always loved, 

 and, like homely people with noble hearts, they 

 seem beautiful by association. Nothing that pro- 

 duces constant pleasure in us can fail to seem 

 beautiful. We do not need to speak for that 

 universal favourite the rose ! As a flower is the 



