FLORAL EMBLEMS. 145 



FIDELITY IN MISFORTUNE. 



W A L L-F LO w E R . Cheiratithus Cheiri. 



" The rude stone fence, with fragrant wall-flow'rs gay, 



To me more pleasure yield, 

 Than all the pomp imperial domes display." 



Scott. 



The wall-flower is made the emblem of 

 fidelity in misfortune, because it attaches it- 

 self to the desolate, and enlivens the ruins 

 which time and neglect would otherwise ren- 

 der terrible. It hides the savage strokes of 

 feudal times on the castle walls ; fills the space 

 of the wanted stone in the mouldering church, 

 and wreathes a garland on the crumbling mo- 

 nument, where grateful memory no longer 

 lingers. 



" For this, obedient zephyrs bear 



Her light seeds round yon turret's mould ; 

 And, undispers'd by tempest there, 

 They rise in vegetable gold." 



Langhorn. 



L 



