Hollyhocks

"A Flaunting, graceless flower ! " yon sny P Ah well ! it may be so, Aud still - It seems but yesterday, That morning long ago ! I alniost see the cottage vet, The winding path - and Margaret. Dew-pearls strung close on cobweb threads, Gleamed in the door-yard grass, And from the prim-lined gardeu-beds Sniiled np to see us páss. Sweet, old-time blossonis, greeting thua A fairer flower, uiieuvious. We rested in the arbor-shade, While through the open door Stole bashful sunbeams, half-afraid, And played upou the floor ; Or, bolder grown, with brightness fleet, Touched her soft liair and forehoad sweet. A light-winged breoze sailed gently by ; The lark's clear note atar Through the blue spaces of the sky Shd like a falling star: - I never saw her look 30 fair ! Ah ! if I told her, woiild 3he care ? Within a scarlet hollyhock A pollen-laden bte Deep plunging, made the blossom rock, - She flashed a smile at me ; And with a motion swiit and light, She caught the silken petals tight. Loud hummed the bee with angry wing, - " Why thus so ill content 'i The sweets you sought, poor foolish thing," She said, "are all unspent ! " My heart leaped up to hear her speak, A sudden courage dyed niy cheek, " Darltng ! " I cried, " O let him fly ! And take me in his place ! Fast prisoned in your lieart, could I Ask any sweeter grace 't I could not struggle to be free, So dear a jailor holds the key ! " Her cheek flushed like an opening rose, No word her hps did say - I saw her little hand uncióse, The glad bee flew away. Ah me ! 'twas torty years ago - My hair is gray - yet this I kuow : I've roamed through many garden bowers, And blooming ñelds since then - In summer wild-wood gathered flowers, And in the mountain glen Pulled harebells from the moss-grown rock - Vpf mnsf T lnvf t.hp hnllvhock !