°f tne mystery of the dark creep all kinds of 

 Or DRJLAMS ! ! t 

 shadowy sounds. 



To me the flowers of the night seem to have 

 more of mystery and of poetry than those of 

 the day. The night invests them with a mys- 

 terious and untellable charm, and draws from 

 them powerful perfumes of which they are 

 utterly devoid during the day. White petunias 

 lose their common quality and become exqui- 

 site at night. The nicotiana, a disconsolate 

 thing by daylight, opens its stars there by the 

 side of the evening primrose, making with its 

 fellow the most perfect blend of silver and 

 gold. How they lure the night moths with 

 their radiance and heavy scents! 



There is a giant lily that, by moonlight, has 

 a strangely weird dignity, and the little night- 

 scented stock, whose dull gray leaves and 

 small, dull-colored flowers close and droop 

 during the day, as soon as the sun has set opens 

 its tender flowers and pours upon the still night 

 air the sweetest fragrance. 



There are flowers too fine in their reserve to 

 lay open their heart to the garish light of day. 

 The lotus flower pines in the sunlight, but 



[ 124 1 



