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AUTUMN FLOWERS AND FRUITS, 



" It was an eve of Autumn's holiest mood. 

 The corn-fields, bathed in Cynthia's silver light, 

 Stood ready for the reaper's gathering hand ; 

 And all the winds slept soundly. Nature seemed 

 In silent contemplation to adore 

 Its Maker. Now and then the aged leaf 

 Fell from its fellows, rustling to the ground ; 

 And, as it fell, bade man think on his end. 

 On vale and lake, on wood and mountain high, 

 With pensive wing outspread, sat heavenly Thought, 

 Conversing with itself. Vesper looked forth 

 From out her western hermitage, and smiled ; 

 And up the east, unclouded, rode the moon 

 With all her stars, gazing on earth intense, 

 As if she saw some wonder working there." 



PolloJc. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



At this season many summer flowers will be lingering on, 

 some almost exhausted with their summer's bloom, and others 

 blossoming anew at intervals with almost pristine vigour. 

 These we must not stay to gather. Our object must be ra- 

 ther to pluck a few fresh illustrations from the Flora of the 

 waning year ; and we shall take them in the order which 

 has been adopted in treating of the flowers of the foregoing 

 seasons. 



