THE FOETRY OF FLOWERS. 45 
NIGHTSHADE. 
OLEANDER. 
DARK THOUGHTS. 
BEWARE ! 
March— march—march— 
i 
I know they have pleaded, the friends that are round 
Earth groans as they tread ! 
thee; 
Each carries a skull. 
I know they have warned thee, entreated and wept; 
Going down to the dead ! 
They have shown thee the guile in the spell that hath 
bound thee. 
Every stride, every stamp. 
And the serpent whose coils round thy spirit have 
Every footfall is bolder;— 
’Tis a skeleton’s tramp, 
crept. 
With a skull on its shoulder. 
Yet still the grim cavern yawns wide to receive thee. 
And now, while no terrors thy spirit oppress. 
But oh 1 how he steps 
I urge this last prayer, not to frighten or grieve thee,— 
With a high-tossing head. 
That clay-covered bone. 
Oh, no 1 but to save thee, redeem thee, and bless. 
Going down to the dead! 
I pray thee, beseech thee, if e’er thou hast loved me. 
A. C. Cork. 
By all our past sorrows, and trials, and tears. 
By all the caprices with which thou hast proved me, * 
Return to the truth of thine earlier years 1 
-♦- 
--♦-- 
OAK TREE. 
PANSY. 
The Oak embraces about eighty species. 
This flower has three colours—purple, yellow, and blue. 
It is much cultivated, and highly esteemed. 
HOSPITALITY. 
— 
YOU OCCUPY MY TIIOUG1IT3. 
Thanks for the kindly courtesies 
Beside thy hearthstone shared; 
I havr sweet thoughts of thee! 
Be every joy that round it lies 
They come around me like the voice of song; 
And every blessing spared 1 
They come like birds that to the south belong, 
And wear a gayer wing, and brighter crest. 
The roof that over me hath spread 
Than those that on the rooftrec build the nest; 
A shelter kind and warm. 
They come more tender, beautiful, and bright. 
Oh, may it shield thy gen’rous head 
Than any thoughts that others can excite ; 
From every chilling storm l 
They tell me gentle tales of thee and thine ; 
Of gems of truth that in thy spirit shine; 
For kind, indeed, have been thy cares 
Of goodness, purity, and holy zeal. 
Since ’ncath its shade I came ; 
That can for others earnest pity feel; 
I’ve shared in all thy household prayers— 
Of all things beautiful in soul and heart,— 
Thou shalt in mine the same. 
And such they tell me, dearest, that thou art 1 
