96 THE FLORAL GIFT. 
NIGHT-BLOOMING CEREUS. 
Cactus Grandiflorus ,—Class 12, Order 1. 
A tropical plant, whose large vanilla-scented flowers ex¬ 
pand atevening, and close at the approach of day. 
TRANSIENT BEAUTY. 
’Tis sad to see a fairy bark upon the calm 
blue sea— 
With the gentle breeze of the summer breath 
careering wild and free— 
In all the glow of her bounding pride, on 
the soft and sunnny wave, 
Go swiftly down in the flashing tide, to find 
an ocean grave. 
And Oh ! ’tis sad, in the flush of youth, when 
the world is bright and fair, 
And the merry laugh of the joyous throng 
rings sweet on the silver air;— 
When the budding hopes of the bounding 
heart are bursting into bloom, 
By the might of death’s unerring shaft, to be 
struck to the silent tomb. 
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