Rational tf loter$ 



Monarchs and nations have often had their sym- 

 bolic flowers. The Thistle is the emblem of Scot- 

 land, and the Shamrock of Ireland. The Fleur de 

 Lis is the badge of the royal house of France, and 

 the Amaranth that of Sweden. The Rose is on 

 the royal coat of arms of England. 



The rose may bloom for England, 



The lily for France unfold; 

 Ireland may honor the shamrock, 



Scotland her thistle bold, 

 But the shield of the Great Republic, 



The glory of the West, 

 Shall bear a stalk of the tasseled corn, 



Of all our wealth the best. 



Edna Dean Proctor. 



They have asked me to vote for a national flower, 



Now, which will it be, I wonder ; 

 To settle the question is out of my power ; 



But I'd rather not make a blunder. 



Instead of one flower, I will vote for three : 

 The Mayflowers know that I mean them; 



And the Goldenrod surely my choice will be, 

 With the Sweetbrier-Rose between them. 



Lucy Larcom. 



d&at&en of 



Before me was the garden where I had played 

 all my childhood, until playing had turned into 

 dreaming. It was unkempt, but it seemed to have 

 more dignity and meaning than the garden of my 

 memory; the unpruned rose-bushes reached out 



