30 NATURAL HISTORY READER. 



more their birthright to the land of their fathers. The 

 fine, well-trimmed turf is smothered under a thousand 

 coarser plants, rank grass and fat clover overspread the 

 exotics ; briers climb up with the aid of hooks and ladders, 

 as if they were storming a fortress ; nettles fill the urns of 

 statues with their thick tufts, and unsightly mosses creep 

 up the very faces of marble beauties. Wild cherry-trees 

 and maples seize on every cornice and cleft of every stately 

 mansion, hardy, invincible roots penetrate into the slightest 

 opening, until at last victory is declared, and the trees of 

 the forest wave their rich foliage over the high turrets, and 

 raise triumphantly on spire and pinnacle the gorgeous 

 banner of Nature. 



M. Scheie dc Vcre. 



THE RHODORA. 



1. I~s May, when sea-winds pierced our solitudes, 

 I found the fresh rhodora in the woods, 

 Spreading its leafless blooms in a damp nook, 

 To please the desert and the sluggish brook. 

 The purple petals, fallen in the pool, 



Made the black waters with their beauty gay : 



Here might the red-bird come his plumes to cool, 



And court the flower that cheapens his array. 



2. Khodora ! if the sages ask thee why 



This charm is wasted on the earth and sky, 

 Tell them, dear, that if eyes were made for seeing, 

 Then Beauty is its own excuse for being. 

 Why thou wcrt there, rival of the rose ! 



I never thought to ask, I never knew ; 

 But in my sinrple ignorance suppose 



The self -same Power that brought me there brought you. 



Emerson. 



