The lily may die on thy cheek, With freshness no longer adorning; The rose that envelopes its whiteness may seek To take back her mantle of morning; Yet still will Love's tenderness beam from thine eye, And ask for that homage no heart can deny. The glory of the human form Dawes. Is but a perishing thing, and Love will droop Beauty lies As naturally upon his cheek as bloom Upon a peach. Like morning vapour, flies Willis. Before his smile my mind's infrequent gloom. May bear a burden sore and wearisome. A faithful man, whom praise nor gold can buy, Nor threats of vile, designing men can move,— We ask no more. MacKellar. SCARLET GERANIUM....Stupidity. There are many varieties of the Geranium, distinguished by the shape and hue of the flowers and leaves, and the difference in their fragrance. The Scarlet Geranium is a very beautiful flower, but its scent is disagreeable. The following anecdote will give the reason of its being chosen as the emblem of stupidity. Madame de Staël was always angry when any of her acquaintance attempted to introduce a stupid person into her company. One day, one of her friends ventured to bring to her a young Swiss officer of most prepossessing exterior. The lady, pleased with his appearance, was very lively, and said a thousand flattering things to the new-comer, who seemed at first to be struck mute by surprise and admiration. When, however, he had listened to her for above an hour without opening his lips, she began to suspect the cause of his silence, and put to him such direct questions that he could not help answering. His answers were extremely silly! Madame de Staël, vexed at having thrown away her time and her wit, turned to her friend and said: "Indeed, sir, you are like my gardener, who thought to do me a pleasure by bringing me this morning a pot of Geranium: but I can tell you that I made him take back the flower, desiring him not to let me see it any more." "And why so?" asked the young man in astonishment. "It was, since you wish to know, because the Geranium is a beautiful scarlet flower; while you look at it, it pleases the eye; but when you press it ever so slightly, it gives out a disagreeable smell. So saying, Madame de Staël rose and went out of the room, leaving the young fool abashed and in confusion. This fellow is wise enough to play the fool; Your blunderer is as sturdy as a rock, He has no hearing on the prudent side. New raised objections with new quibbles meets; A set o' dull conceited hashes, Cowper. Plain truth to speak; An' syne they think to climb Parnassus By dint o' Greek. Gie me a spark o' Nature's fire, Then tho' I drudge thro' dub an' mire At pleugh or cart, My muse, tho' hamely in attire, May touch the heart. Burns. The man who looks around him as he walks Will lead the mind into the ways of knowledge; And every one may be a learner here. Experience is the teacher: dear, indeed, The various tongues of nature learn to read. Enough for his own use, and much to spare. To him who hath, abundance shall be given; From him who squanders wastefully his share, All that he has shall righteously be riven: The world shall make a proverb of his name, MacKellar. OAK GERANIUM....Friendship. The Oak Geranium does not present so beautiful an appearance as the scarlet variety; but the pale blue colour of the flower, and the length of time which it continues in bloom, endear it to us as the emblem of true friendship. What though on Love's altar the flame that is glowing In youth Love's light But dies ere the winter of age be past,— Burns ever the same, And glows but the brighter, the nearer its last! Anon. Thanks to my stars, I have not ranged about And such a friendship ends not but with life. Addison. |