FLORA'S INTERPRETER. 1 1 1 



LtfCHEN. (Tall Moss.) Clntt 24. Order 5. These i 



esare fleshy or leather-like substances, growing 

 on trees, and vegetating on naked rocks, draw- 

 ing nourishment chielly from the air. 



SOLITUDE. 



Retiring Lichen climbs the topmost stone, 

 And drinks the aerial solitude alone. 



Darwin. 



SENTIMENT. 



Alone! alone! How drear it is, 



Always to be alone! 

 In such a depth of wilderness, 



The only thinking one! 

 The waters in their path rejoice, 



The trees together sleep 

 But I have not one silver voice 



Upon my ear to creep. 



I 'm weary of my lonely hut, 



And of its blasted tree; 

 The very lake is like my lot, 



So silent, constantly. 

 I 've lived amid the forest gloom, 



Until I almost fear 



When will the thrilling voices come 



My spirit thirsts to hear? 



Willi*. 



ANSWER. 



There 's a blest and sacred solitude, 



On which the world should never intrude, 



When bright to the view fond memory brings 



A vision of dear departed things: 



And then, as fair as the evening star, 



Comes the image of friends removed afar; 



And the vision that brightens through memory's tears, 



In the sunshine and bustle of mirth disappears. 



Mrt. Hale. 



