[From Household Words.]
FLOWERS.
Dear friend, love well the flowers! Flowers are the sign
Of Earth's all gentle love, her grace, her youth,
Her endless, matchless, tender gratitude.
When the Sun smiles on thee—why thou art glad:
But when the Earth he smileth, She bursts forth
In beauty like a bride, and gives him back,
In sweet repayment for his warm bright love,