Floral Poetry. 
*93 
A CHRISTMAS ROSE. 
W HEN the days are dark and cloudy 
And the year’s wreck strews the earth, 
Pure, all around besoiled, 
Springs the Christmas Rose to birth. 
So when earth’s, wide realms were dark 
With sin, and hate, and strife, 
Sinless, the Son of God 
Came to His earthly life. 
Then a Christmas Rose I send thee, 
Now Wintry skies are drear, 
The pledge of Christ’s abiding 
Through all the long New Year. 
Rev. Canon Gover. 
CUPID AND THE DIAL. 
O NE day, young frolic Cupid tried 
To scatter Roses o’er the hours, 
And on the dial’s face to hide 
The course of time with many flowers. 
By chance, his rosy wreaths had wound 
Upon the hands, and forced them on; 
And, when he looked again, he found 
The hours had passed, the time was done. 
“ Alas !” said Love, and dropped his flowers, 
“ I’ve lost my time in idle play ; 
The sweeter I would make the hours, 
The quicker they are passed away.” 
Anon. 
2 B 
