M3^ 



illimosa puilica. Natural Order: LeguminosLC — Pulse Family. 



SENSITIVE soul shrinks when wounded or stung by the 

 1 udeness or sarcasm of a thoughtless tongue, and in this plant 

 .1 curious analogy to this feeling is found. The Mimosa has 

 the peculiar property of retraction, when touched by the hand 

 ,-« or other substance. There are tiiur plants which have the 

 , ,N same peculiar power, the names of which are: Dwarf 

 Cassia, called also Sensitive Pea, an elegant plant with yellow flowers; 

 the Wild Sensitive plant, whose leaves close by night and when 

 touched; the Sensitive Brier, and the above, which is about a toot 

 high, with a shrubby stem. The flowers of the Mimosa pudica are 

 small, and bloom in heads, and are of little beauty. It is a native of 

 Brazil, and is often cultivated as a curiosity, as its leaves droop if 

 touched, or if the stalk of the shrub is shaken all the stems sink 

 down as if they ti;lt a thrill of horror pass over them, and only reco\-er after sev- 

 eral hours. 



W 



ITHAL she laughed, and she blushed 

 That blushing to her laughter gave m 

 laughter to her blushing. 



Spe„s. 



the 



'pHE sensitive plant 



*• Upgather'd into the bosom of res 

 A sweet child wearj of its delight, 

 The feeblest and vet the favorite. 

 Cradled within the embrace of night. 



T 



HE sweet eyes that his eves were set upon 

 Were hid by shamefast lids as he did speak, 

 .\nd redder color burned on her fresh cheek, 

 .\nd her lips smiled, as, with a half-sad sigh, 

 He 'gan to tell his lovesome historv. 



-William Morris. 



I 1- maids 

 ' But if i 



he cures who can; 

 a man be shv — a man — 



Whv, then the worse for hi 



OO bright the te 

 ^^ Love half regr 



bea 



regrets to kiss i 

 sweet the blush of bashful) 

 E'en pit\- scarce can wish i 



-Jem, Ingeto:.. 



face o'erspread, 

 ying her cheeks, by turn, with white and red: 

 The driving colors, never at a stay. 

 Run here and there, and flush and fade awav. 



\ CRIMSON blush her bea 

 ^ Va 



273 



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