THE FLORAL GIFT. 
91 
3 ? 
MYRTLE. 
Myrtus Communis ,—Class 12, Order 1. 
Favorite shrubs of parlor cultivation, with large white 
blosaoma.---South v of Europe, 
LOVE IN ABSENCE. 
I see thee still—though far away, 
From my young vision now, 
I gaze upon thine eyes’ sweet ray, 
Thy fair and lofty brow : 
I hear thy voice of melting power, 
Those tones of holy thrill; 
In fancies of the midnight hour, 
I dream I see thee still! 
I know how sadly vain it is, 
To cherish thoughts like these ; 
Yet lone hearts sometimes dream of bliss, 
’Mid all their miseries. 
And in my lonely hours, alas ! 
When deepest woes are mine, 
Strange flitting thoughts will often pass, 
And point to smiles of thine ! 
S. E. Southerland. 
