. 
I 
PREFERENCE. 
GERANIUM, ROSE. 
Pelargonium Capitatum. 
Language —PREFERENCE. 
He says he loves my daughter; 
I think so too ; for never gazed the moon 
Upon the water, as he’ll stand and read, 
As ’twere my daughter’s eyes: and to be plain, 
I think there is not half a kiss to choose, 
Who loves another best. 
Shakspeaee. 
Thy choice, gentle maiden! 
’Tis thine, thine alone : 
The leaflet dew laden, 
The sun-illumed stone! 
The one is the offer 
Of power and pride, 
With gold in his coffer, 
And gems for his bride. 
The other, a token 
From passion and truth, 
The pure and unbroken, 
The love of thy youth. 
She falters — though cruel, 
The struggle is brief — 
She clasps not the jewel — 
The tear-laden leaf. 
Mbs. Osgood. ; 
© ■ ~ - .■ — =- -^-^ © 
