ILLUSTRATION OF PLATE.

Mignionette.— Heliotrope.— Pink.

Your qalities surpass your charms; I love you with a pure and de voted love.

I KNOW not if that face be fair,

If what the world would beauty call,
May beam and blush and brighten there,
In lip and eye and ringlet's fall:

So richly eloquent through those eyes,
Your soul, of love and truth doth speak,

So soft the timid heart-hues rise,
In glowing witchery, on your cheek,

That, whether it be fair or dark,

Or they, the eyes, be black or blue,
I never yet have cared to mark,
Or marking, have forgot the hue:

I only know-howe'er you smile,
Whate'er your tresses' teint or fashion,

The graces of your mind beguile

My heart to own a deathless passion.

F. S. O.

L

:

REWARD OF VIRTUE.

A GARLAND OF ROSES.

Let us crown ourselves with roses ere they be withered.
SOLOMON'S SONG.

AT Salency, in France, there is a festival of roses, instituted by St. Medard, bishop of Noyon. There is an annual assemblage of young persons of both sexes, who elect for their queen of the day that maiden who is most worthy (and her worth must consist in the practice of social and domestic virtues); then they crown her amid loud rejoicings, and with solemn ceremony. The simple splendour of those flowers, which are the crown of innocence, is at once its reward, encouragement, and emblem. It is a gentle ambition, whose utmost aim is a garland of roses.

Roses seem to have been used in garlands among the ancient Egyptians; for we read that when Ptolemy and Cleopatra entertained Cesar, and the noble Romans who attended him did

With wreaths of nard the guests the ir temples bind,
And blooming roses of immortal kin l.

ROWE'S LUCAN.

Yes! thou shalt wear

The wreath we are merrily braiding,
Of buds and blooms

The beautiful roses of spring.

Amid the hair,

Thy forehead of snow o'ershadowing,
'T will mock the blush,

That steals to thy cheek as we sing!