10 JUNE WILD FLOWERS^. . ' 



Bear her from the mossy shelter — 



From the peaceful nest ; ,, 



Let her soft eyes, now fast closing-, -^ 

 All life's light and lustre losing, ' 

 On her lover rest. 



Lay her deep among the leaflets, 



On the breast of Earth ; 

 Pray the Mother, all Life-giving, 

 That the lost one, death out-living, 



Have a second birth. 



« 



And the leaves turned darker, darker^ 



Like to blood in hue, 

 On the grave of her who perished ; 

 And the flow'rs hermera^ry cherished, 



That her story knew. 



Long within the forest quiet. 

 Was a song-moan heard, > 

 Ever fainter, fainter growing, 

 Till again spring blossoms blowing, 

 Then a new life stirred. 



And the spirit of the mourned one, 



Came in form so fair, — 

 Pure and white — a fitting token 

 Of the heart all bruised and broken 



That had withered there. 



And the children call it Blood-root, 



When in summer hours, 

 From the leaves its roots they sunder, 

 While they at its red drops wonder. 



When so white its flow'rs. 



Toronto. A.G.H.Whitb. 



