158 FUNERAL FLOWERS. 



LINES. 



BY M. A. BROWSE. 



"Do not pluck the flowers, they are sacred to tne dead." 



An inscription, similar to the foregoing, it seen in mar.y 

 parts of the Eoman Catholic Burial Ground, Botanic 

 Gardens, Cork. 



OH ! spare the flowers, the fair young flowers, 



The free glad gift the summer brings ; 

 Bright children of the sun and showers, 



Here do they rise, earth's offerings. 

 Rich be the dew upon you shed 



Green be the bough that o'er you waves, 

 Weariless watchers by the dead, 



Unblenching dweller 'midst the graves ! 



Oh ! spare the flowers ! their sweet perfume, 

 Upon the wandering zephyr cast, 



And lingering o'er the lowly tomb, 

 Is like the memory of the past 



