als most of heaven disclose,
In foremost rank--far in advance--
There stands the sprightly, smiling rose.

Its home is on the wide, wide plains,
In valleys where wild torrents foam,
In solitudes where silence reigns,
And by the cotter's humble home.
It cheers alike the rich and poor
On Alpine heights, or by the sea,
By castle wall or peasant's door--
It justly claims ubiquity.

Could blushing beauty born of heaven,
Or world-wide worship win the prize,
Could fragrance, fancy, fame, or even
The rich rays of reflected skies
Soothe sorrows sharp and scorching sting
And give the world complete repose,
Then men should shout and children sing--
"The flower of State must be the Rose!"

THE GOLDENROD.

When August sunset's yellow blaze
Streams out o'er meadow, field and lawn,
It seeks some shrine wherein its rays
May linger till returning dawn,
And touching gently with its sheen
That graceful plumage of the sod,
Its constellated gems of green
Are changed to glorious _Goldenrod_.

Its home is in the sterile soil
Deserted by the rustic swain
Because it yields not for his toil
The recompense he would obtain.
By wall and ledge, and rock, and mound,
Where'er neglect and ruin reign
In greatest beauty there 'tis found,
To cheer and clothe the earth again.

Down in the soul there dwells a thought
That finds expression not in word,
That counts display and promise naught
Unless a voice divine is heard,
That speaks to cheer the desolate,
That yields a balm distilled from God;
Whose type should be the flower of State--
The sun-lit, heaven-born _Goldenrod_.

BUTTERCUPS AND DAISIES.

Buttercups and daisies,--
Bright children of the lawn--
To the fields are nodding
In the winds of June.
Such beauty of the meadows
Gives a charm so sweet, so strong,
The robin's spirit bursts aloud
In animated song.

Buttercups and daisies
Bloom adown the narrow lane,
Beside the brook in pasture,
And over the wide plain;
Tangles in the meadow
Where ten million flowers bloom,
Draw bee and bird and squirrel,
With their beauty and perfume.

Buttercups and daisies
Aglow in morning light,
And pendant dew-drops sparklin