Part 14 (1/2)

--MARY FREDERICK FAXON.

When eve had come, and thicker grew The shadows all the garden through, Beside the rose-embowered gate, Her laughter stilled. To speak, or wait-- Oh, beating heart, what should I do!

Long lashes hid her eyes of blue, Twin violets befringed with dew.

--SAMUEL MINTURN PECK.

I wonder if the violet felt Your presence when you gently knelt, And breathed for you its sweetest air Because you loved yet left it there.

--HARRIET PRESCOTT SPOFFORD.

O, were I yon violet, On which she is walking!

Or were I yon small bird, To which she is talking!

--ALLAN CUNNINGHAM.

I asked a nodding violet, why It sadly hung its head.

It told me Cynthia late past by, Too soon from it that fled.

--MICHAEL DRAYTON.

Compa.s.sed all about with roses sweet And dainty violets from head to feet.

--EDMUND SPENSER.

Weep no more, nor sigh, nor groan, Sorrow calls no time that's gone: Violets plucked, the sweetest rain Makes not fresh nor grow again.

--SAMUEL FLETCHER.

On beds of violets blue And fresh-blown roses washed in dew.

--JOHN MILTON.

Over the river there lieth A city wondrous fair, And never the eye of a mortal Hath looked on the glories there.

The lilies grow by the rivers, Stately and fair they blow, And lift their balm to the angels, In their censer-cup of snow; And the violets blossom forever In the haunts where the wild birds sing, And the fern and the flowers are fragrant In the balm of eternal spring.

--EBEN E. REXFORD.

CHAPTER TEN

The violets bloom is loveliest, Oh pretty pets, the violets.

--M. D. TOLMAN.

CHAPTER TEN

Ah, the days may be sullen and sober, The nights may be stormy and cold; But for him who has eyes to behold, The violets bloom in October.