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THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
MOSS ROSE (Rosa muscosa). Superior merit. Voluptuousness. 
pretty translation from the 
German gives us the origin of 
this superb rose. The Angel of 
the Flowers fell asleep one day 
under a rose tree, which gave 
him refreshing shade, and on 
waking, thus in rapture he 
spoke : — 
“ 1 Thou queen of my bowers, 
Thou fairest of flowers. 
What gift shall be mine, 
And what guerdon be thine ? ’ 
‘ In guerdon of duty 
Bestow some new beauty,’ 
She said; and then smiled 
Like a mischievous child. 
In anger he started, 
But ere he departed, 
To rebuke the vain flower 
In the pride of her power, 
He flung some rude moss 
Her fair bosom across; — 
But her new robes of green 
So became the fair queen, 
That the Angel of Flowers 
Mistrusted his powers. 
And was heard to declare 
He had granted her prayer.” 
