96 EVENING PRIMROSE. 



around which night-moths and ephemera 

 were gathering. Dusky looking, yet beau- 

 tiful and evanescent creatures, often the 

 birth of the noon-day, attaining their full 

 maturity at that still hour, when the even- 

 ing primrose opens her yellow-tinted petals, 

 as if to welcome back the twihght ; a star 

 of earth, shining alone for them, and guiding 

 their insect steps or wings, when other 

 flowers have folded up their petals, and are 

 gone to rest. She awaits the moment when 

 the sun withdraws his beams, for the sinking 

 of his orb behind the hills, while yet a golden 

 light is seen to linger on their heights, and 

 gorgeous clouds are waiting in the place of 

 his withdrawing ; the sinking of that orb 

 is a sure signal for the opening of her fra- 

 grant corolla. Unlike all others that watch 

 for his arising, or seem to follow his go- 

 ings in the heavens with devoted fondness, 

 this nun-like flower opens not till he is 



