62 
&■ 
THE FLORAL GIFT. 
2 
HELLEBORE. 
Helleborus Niger ,—Class 13, Order 4, 
A plant first introduced from the oouth of Europe ; hears a 
greenish-colored flower. 
CALUMNY. 
When scandal, breathed in dire discordant 
sounds, 
Wounds all it strikes, and poisons all it wounds 
In pity’s healing balm, the tongue should dip, 
Or silence with the finger seal the lip. 
Why fill the feeling breast with pain and wo ! 
Steal the best treasures, Heaven can here 
bestow; 
Why rob the Christian of his spotless fame ? 
And by detraction blight the purest name ?— 
Teach me, O God ! to drop a pitying tear, 
And to their faults be kind, but not severe ; 
Look with composure on the faults you see, 
May Heaven the same compassion show to 
me. 
Si 
