■^M 



^B^nVUQtXB. 





Asparagus officinalis. Natural Order: Liliacav — Lily Family. 



nP],E in towns and cities are familiar with the vegetable 



^i \ jiaragus as they find it in their markets, tied in bundles of 



// '-U light stalks without the least appearance of foHage. There 



the stalks are almost white, as gardeners cut the stems deep 



^si| m the soil. Those having their own gardens cut them after 



J^the^ are four or five inches above the ground, \\hen they are 



_,i n sweet, and quite brittle. The soil should be very rich for its 



^lowth It 15 one of the oldest of table plants, having been a favorite 



fiom the tiniL of the ancient Greeks; and grows about four feet high 



into 1 higt herbaceous bush, with leaves like so many green bristles. 



\ ni iss It I distance looks as if the fairies had disrobed and left their 



green illusion garments behind. The flowers are small: the berries, in 



autumn, are a brilliant scarlet. 



T X poet's lore, and sentimental story, 



It seems as 't were this life's supremest aim 



For heroes to achieve what men call glory, 

 And die intoxicate with earth's acclaim. 



Ah me! how little care the dead for breath 



Of vain applause that saved them not from death. 



■yET, press on! 



■*■ For it shall make you mighty among men; 

 And, from the eyrie of your eagle thought. 

 Ye shall look down on monarchs. O, press on! 

 For the high ones and powerful shall come 

 To do you reverence; and the beautiful 

 Will know the purer language of your soul, 

 .\nd read it like a talisman of love. 

 Press on! for it is godlike to unloose 

 The spirit and forget yourself ir. thought. 



|y|AN wa 



—MackMar. 



nark'd 

 A friend, in his creation, to himself, 

 And may, with fit ambition, conceive 

 The greatest blessings, and the brightest honors 

 Appointed for him, if he can achieve them 

 The right and noble way. —Masihiffcr. 



■flTHO never felt the impatient throb, 

 *• The longing of a heart that pants 

 And reaches after distant good. 



^S- 



