WILD FLOWERS. 175 



' It won't for long,' 



The man made answer, with a mournful smile, 

 Eyeing the plant ' I took it up, poor thing ! 

 But Sunday evening last, from the rich meadow, 

 Where thousands bloom so gay, and brought it here, 

 To smell of the green fields for a few days, 

 Till Sunday comes again and rest mine eyes on, 

 AVhen I look up, fatigued, from these dead gems 

 And yellow glittering gold.' "Miss BOWLES. 



The man was a working jeweller, and could 

 estimate rightly the great value of the precious 

 ore, and glittering gems, entrusted to him ; and 

 yet more highly did he prize the simple Wild 

 Flower, which reminded him of his rarely 

 enjoyed country walks, and brought something 

 of the freshness and beauty of nature into his 

 home and his heart ; pleasant associations were 

 mingled with the sight of that flower, and it 

 cheered and refreshed him at his labor, to look 

 upon it, and 19 think 



" Thus, when within my sunless room, 



Heartsick, and mocked by mammon's leaven, 

 Thy pyramids of purple bloom, 

 Blush through the loneliness and gloom, 

 My spirit bursts its living tomb, 



And basks beneath the open heaven." 



