94 



Till the full pods, a hiscious band, 



Invite the gard'ner's eager hand. 



But time, that wears both you and me, 



Deals desolation to the Pea. 



The husk soon dry, and wither'd grown, 



The Pea contracts a heart of stone ; 



And all its youthful vigour past, 



To what it was, returns at last. 



Thus man in infant life is seen, 

 With passions tender, young, and green, 

 Increasing till he gains his prime, 

 Then stoops before the scythe of Time ; 

 Nature soon claims the tribute just, 

 He withers, dies, returns to dust. 

 Though youth a thousand beauties shares, 

 As many beauties age impairs. 

 Then laugh not at my verse or me, 

 For man is nothing but a Pea. 



SINGULAR PROPERTY OF THE POPPY. 



Of the Poppy, and of many similar species of 

 flowers, the head while it is growing, hangs 

 down, a rigid curvature in the upper part of the 

 stem giving to it that position ; and in that po- 

 sition it is impenetrable by rain or moisture. 

 When the head has acquired its size, and is 

 ready to open, the stalk erects itself, for the 



