HOLLYHOCK AND CHINA ROSE. 
“Excelsior." 
Oh! beautiful art thou as glowing morn, 
When from her dewy, rose-wreathed, orient bower, 
She flings to every cloud beside her borne, 
To warm its breast of snow—a blushing flower! 
And thou art graceful as the jasmine spray, 
Waved to Eolian melody in air; 
And free and joyous as a rivulet’s play, 
And true as Truth, and pure as holy prayer. 
I’ve wreathed with heart-flowers many a Beauty’s shrine, 
And poured in song the soul of passion there; 
But ah! that melody and bloom divine 
Were worse than wasted on the false as fair! 
To thee—to thee—with pilgrim heart I turn; 
For thee my lute I fondly tune again; 
Of thee—Love’s sweet and glowing lore I’ll learn; 
Thy starlight smiles shall be his beaming chain! 
F. S. 0. 
