128 
THE CARDINAL FLOWER. 
ILLUSTRATION OF THE SENTIMENT. 
Oh ! didst thou mark her when she first appear’d, 
Still distant slowly moving with her train ? 
Her robe and tresses floating on the wind, 
Like some light figure in a moving cloud ; 
Then, as she onward to the eye became 
The more distinct, the lovelier still upgrew 
That graceful bearing of her slender form; 
Her roundly spreading breast, her tow’ring neck, 
Her face tinged sweetly with the bloom of youth; 
But when on near approach she towards us turn’d, 
Kind mercy ! what a countenance was there! 
And when to our salute she gently bow’d, 
Didst mark that smile rise from her parting lips ? 
Soft swell’d her glowing cheek, her eyes smiled too! 
O, how they smiled! ’twas like the beams of heaven; 
I felt my roused soul within me start 
Like something waked from sleep. 
Joanna Baillie. 
