THE FLORAL OFFERING. 
“Nor care I, dear—I only feel, 
That thou art all I ask to me, 
With Heaven’s light on my wings, I steal 
To find my dearer Heaven in thee!” 
And the glad flower, unquestioning more, 
With fond embrace, enfolds the ray, 
Till, ah! the noon has fled, and o’er 
The wildwood fades that Eden day. 
Recalled to Heaven, the sunbeam flies, 
The sorrowing blossom folds its leaves, 
And shuts, to hide the tears, its eyes, 
And still and lonely, dreams and grieves! 
The stars float calmly through the night, 
And smile on Nature’s frailest child— 
She does not heed their holy light, 
She loves too well her grief so wild! 
The night breeze coming, hears her weep, 
And whispers low, “Why mourns my flower?” 
Ah! then the blossom feigns to sleep, 
And shrinks within her leafy bower. 
And to herself, she sings all night, 
“My glorious love, come back to me! 
I have no joy, no bloom, no light, 
Oh, I am nothing without thee!” 
F. S. 0. 
