EVENING PRIMROSE. 97 



gone. She loves to keep her vigils by dim 

 twilight, or beneath the beams of the cold 

 moon, and then, as if like Charity, doing 

 her good deeds in secret; when all other 

 eyes, save those of Him who made her, are 

 closed in sleep, she gives both food and a 

 sweet nectareous juice to many weary ones, 

 who would perish but for her timely aid. He 

 who watches by the evem'ng primrose, when 

 the night is dark and sultry, when neither 

 moon nor stars are visible, and wayfaring 

 creatures could not find their way to her 

 hospitable petals, may see a phosphoric light 

 gleaming from this favourite flower. WTien 

 not a tree nor rock can be discerned, nor 

 yet the road, though known, might be safely 

 travelled, she emits a pale light from all 

 her himdred flowers, and looks as if illu- 

 minated for a holiday. You may then see, 

 more clearly than even in the bright moon- 

 shine, how the stem, and leaves, and petals, 



H 



