214 
LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
it is sometimes called Four-o’clock Flower. 
But, when the weather is moderately cool, and 
the sun obscured, these shy blossoms remain 
open the whole day. 
Phillips remarks that, however timid these 
flowers may appear in the presence of the god 
of day, they stand the blaze of the strongest 
artificial light as cheerfully as other belles who 
delight to shine at the same hour with this 
emblem of timidity. 
We cannot resist the temptation of quoting 
here an exquisite little poem by Mrs. Hemans, 
on “ Night-scented Flowers,” which originally 
appeared in the Forget Me Not. 
“ Call back your odours, lonely flowers. 
From the night-wind call them back; 
And fold your leaves till the laughing hours 
Come forth in the sunbeam’s track. 
“ The lark lies couched in her grassy nest. 
And the honey-bee is gone j 
And all bright things are away to rest— 
Why watch ye here alone ?” 
“ Nay, let our shadowy beauty bloom, 
When the stars give quiet light; 
And let us offer our faint perfume 
On the silent shrine of night. 
