Wallflower. 
(FIDELITY IN MISFORTUNE.) 
A COMMON garden blossom, that seldom receives all the 
attention it is worthy of, is the Wallflower, symbolical 
of fidelity in misfortune. It was a great favourite in the middle 
ages, when troubadours and minstrels wore it to emhlemize 
the unchangeableness of their affection. Wallflowers belong 
to the Stock family; and by far the finest is the common one, 
which Thomson, in his “ Seasons,” describes as 
“ The yellow wallflower, strained with iron brown.” 
Its colours are extremely rich, and its odour most delightful: 
it is a native of Switzerland, France, and Spain, as well as of our 
native land. “ It is,” says Mr. Martyn, “ one of the few flowers 
which have been cultivated for their fragrancy time immemo¬ 
rial in our gardens.” 
But few modern poets have proved their regard for this too- 
much neglected, sweet-smelling flower. Bernard Barton tells 
US that << gjYitulem true thou art, 
Of love’s enduring lustre, given 
To cheer a lonely heart. ” 
And elsewhere this poet sings of this flower: 
“ To me it speaks of loveliness, “ But, in adversity’s dark hour, 
That passes not with youth, When glory is gone by, 
Of beauty which decay can bless, It then exerts its gentle power 
Of constancy and truth. The scene to beautify.” 
Notably amid the poets who have delighted to do it honour 
stands Moir (“ Delta ”), some of his brightest verses being ad¬ 
dressed to 
‘ The wallflower, the wallflower! 
How beautiful it blooms! 
It gleams above the ruined tower, 
Like sunlight over tombs; 
It sheds a halo of repose 
Around the wrecks of time j 
To beauty give the flaunting rose— 
The wallflower is sublime. 
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