158 FUNERAL FLOWERS. 



LINES. 



BT M. A. BROWNE. 



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



An inscription, similar to the foregoing, is seen in many 

 parts of ih*. Roman Catholic Burial Ground, Botanic 

 Gardens, Cork. 



UH ! 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 yon shed 



Green be the bough that o'er you waves, 

 Weariless watchers by the dead, 



Unblenching dwellers 'midst the graves ! 



Oh ! spare the flowers ! their sweet perfume, 

 Upon the wandering zephyr cast, 



A.nd lingering o'er the lowly tomb, 

 Is like the memory of the past 



