150 
FUNERAL FLOWERS. 
infant in the flowers, we quote this passage from 
the work above referred to:—“I gathered a 
rose from a magnolia, and placed it, yet moist 
with the dew, upon the head of Atala, who still 
slept. I hoped that, according to my religion, 
the soul of some new-born infant would descend 
on the crystal dew of this flower, and that a 
prosperous dream would convey it to the bosom 
of my beloved.” Stay ! we have another floral 
epitaph, which, as it relates to a child, we 
should like to quote in this place; it is from a 
country church-yard in Ireland :— 
“A little spirit slumbers here, 
Who to one heart was ever dear. 
. Oh! he was more than life or light, 
Its thought hy day—its dream hy night. 
The chill winds came; the young flower faded, 
And died; the grave its sweetness shaded. 
Fair hoy! thou shouldst have wept for me, 
Not I have had to mourn for thee; 
Yet not long shall my sorrowing he— 
These roses I have planted round, 
To deck thy dear, sad, sacred ground. 
When spring gales next these roses wave, 
They’ll blush upon thy mother’s grave.” 
Let us now return to Atala —alas ! she died! 
