AND FLOWERS OF POETRY. 223 
tinual agitation; and being of a blackish green on the upper 
side, with a thick white cotton on the other, they were suppo¬ 
sed to indicate the alternation of the day and night. 
And Time, with a footstep soft and light, 
As the maiden’s own, went by that night. 
f. s. o. 
TIMIDITY. 
MARVEL OF PERU. 
This plant is called mirabilis, and with some degree of rea 
son, for it is a most admirable flower; it expands its richly-dy¬ 
ed corollas at night, whence it has been named by the French, 
belle-de-nuit. 
It is universally considered to be the emblem of timidity, 
from its shunning the brilliant light of day, and only venturing 
to display its charms in the cool of the evening. 
The mimosa, or sensitive plant, has been assigned as the sym¬ 
bol of chastity and prudery, but we think it may be more prop¬ 
erly used as the sign of timidity; as it seems to fly from the 
hand that would touch it. At the least approach, the leaves 
shrink within themselves. The petiole then droops, and if the 
plant be low, it touches the earth. Even a cloud passing be¬ 
tween it and the rays of the sun, is sufficient to change the sit¬ 
uation of its leaves and the general aspect of the plant. 
Timidity, of all afraid, 
Her wreath of the mimosa braid. 
