26 



STARLIGHT AND SUNSHINE. 



And again in the following lines what 

 an inspiring epitome of the dawn ! 



" Hark ! hark ! the lark at heaven's gate sings, 



And Phoebus 'gins arise, 

 His steeds to water at those springs 



On chaliced flowers that lies ; 

 And winking Mary-buds begin 



To ope their golden eyes." 



Indeed, the daisy and the marigold are not 

 singular in this retiring tendency. It may 

 be said that most flowers manifest a dis- 

 position to nod or close at nightfall the 

 wild rose, mallow, pea -blossom, crane's-bill, 

 oxalis, chickweed, mullein, and certain butter- 

 cups, for example, and the list might be mul- 

 tiplied indefinitely. 



To all these dozy tribes is opposed a 

 striking contrast in our beautiful evening 

 primrose, one of the loveliest of night- 

 blooming flowers. In the midst of all 

 this somnolescence what, then, in this 

 particular flower, is that 



"golden care 



That keeps the ports of slumber open wide 

 To many a wakeful night ?" 



Not the quality of "care" in the 

 poet's thought, 'tis true, but care 

 certainly in the sense of conscious, 

 hopeful purpose and bright anticipation. 

 For who that has lingered in the twi- 

 light and watched the eager bursting 

 buds of the primrose, seen the im- 

 pulsive greeting in the open welcome 



