46 The Rose Garden. 



" Peace ! lest my father hear !" then drew 

 One blossom from the wreath, and pressed 

 Its perfume to the pinks that blew 

 Upon the snow-wreaths of her breast, 

 And kissed, and gave the Rose to be 

 Sweet symbols of assent to me. 



Roses and wreaths with shy pretence, 



As for a bridal feast, I bought ; 



And veiling all love's vehemence 



In langour, bade the flowers be brought 



To deck my chamber by the maid 



Whose lips on mine shall soon be laid. 



/. A. Symonds. 



CHRISTMAS ROSES. 



Roses blooming in December. 

 Blooming on a cottage wall ; 

 Lovely are these simple flowers, 

 Nature's kindly gift to all. 

 How they cheer in wintry weather, 

 When the days are dark and drear, 

 Often flowers soothe in sickness, 

 And when sent by friends most dear, 

 Bring a fragrant message with them ; 

 Breathe of hope, or mem'ries past, 

 And altho' the flowers will wither, 

 Yet their influence still will last. 



M. A. Battles. 



ON THE SWEET BRIER. 



The breeze of spring the summer's western wind 



Robs of its odours none so sweet a flower 



In all the blooming waste it leaves behind 



As that the Sweet Brier yields it ; and the shower 



Wets not a Rose that buds in beauty's bower 



One half so lovely ; yet it grows along 



The poor girl's pathway, by the poor man's door. 



Such are the simple folk it dwells among, 



And humble as the bud so humble be the song. 



I love it for it takes its untouched stand 



Not in the vase that sculptors decorate ; 



Its sweetness all is of my native land, 



And e'en its fragrant leaf has not its mate 



Among the perfumes which the rich and great 



Buy from the odours of the spicy east. 



You love your flowers and plants, and will you hate 



The little five-leaved rose that I love best, 



That freshest will awake and sweetest go to rest. 



From the "Little English Flora," by G. W, Francis. 



