42 flora’s album. 
Fig Marygold. 
“ The Marygold that goea to bed with the Sun.” 
IDLENESS. 
The rain is playing its soft pleasant tune 
Eitfully on the sky-light, and the shade 
^ Of the fast flying cioudff across my hook 
Passes with deiicate change. My merry fire 
Sings cheerfully to itself; my musing cat 
Purrs as she wakes from her unquiet sleep, 
And looks into my face as if she felt 
Like me the gentle influence of the rain. 
Here have I sat since morn, reading sometimes. 
And sometimes listening to the faster fall 
Of the large drops, — or, rising with the stir 
G'f an unhidden thought, have walked awhUe, 
With the slow steps of indolence, my room ; 
And then sat down composedly again 
To my quaint books of olden poetry. 
It is a kind of idleness, I know ; 
And I am said to be an idle man, 
And it is very true. 
N. P. Willis. 
