100 DROPS FROM FLORA’S CUP. 
THE CYPRESS TREE. 
This tree speaka to us of death, and is universally the emblem of sor¬ 
row and mourning. The Romans used it at their funerals. The Latins, 
on the death of their friends, placed a branch of the cypress tree in front 
of the house. 
The Turks still adhere to the custom of planting the cypress over the 
graves of the departed. This custom is religiously observed by them ; 
and as they gaze upon this tree, and mourn for the loved and lost, Its 
upward pointing branches tell them that they remain not in the grave, 
but have ascended on high. 
Cyparissus, the son of Telephus, a favored friend of the god Apollo, 
died of grief because ho had killed Apollo’s favorite stag, and was trans¬ 
formed by the god into a cypress tree. 
Harris tells us that the gates of St. Peter’s church at Rome, which 
had lasted from the time of Constantine, to that of Pope Eugene, the 
Fourth, eleven hundred years, were of cypress wood, and had in all that 
time suffered no decay. 
WIFFIN. 
O’er ruined shrines and silent tombs, 
The weeping cypress spreads its glooms, 
In immortality of woe; 
Whilst other shrubs in gladness blow, 
And fling upon the passing wind 
Their liberal treasures unconfined; 
And well its dark and drooping leaf, 
May image forth the gloom and grief, 
Which, when we parted, gave reply 
From heaving heart and dewy eye; 
Then, lady, wear this wreath for me, 
Plucked from the faithful cypress tree. 
