INVOCATION TO TOBACCO.

Weed of the strange pow’r,
Weed of the earth,
Killer of dullness—
Parent of mirth;
Come in the sad hour,
Come in the gay,
Appear in the night,
Or in the day:
Still thou art welcome
As June’s blooming rose,
Joy of the palate,
Delight of the nose.

Weed of the green field,
Weed of the wild,
Foster’d in freedom,—
America’s child;
Come in Virginia,
Come in Havannah,
Friend of the universe,
Sweeter than manna:
Still thou art welcome,
Rich, fragrant, and ripe.
Pride of the tube-case,
Delight of the pipe.
Weed of the savage,
Weed of each pole,
Comforting,—soothing,—
Philosophy’s soul;
Come in the snuff-box,
Come in cigar,
In Strasburg and King’s,
Come from afar:
Still thou art welcome,
The purest, the best,
Joy of earth’s millions,
For ever carest!

NICOTIANA.