THE MISSION OF FLOWERS.
VIOLET, why are your eyes of blue
Wet with tears of the morning dew?
Rosebud, why do you blush and start,
And hide the crystal gem at your heart?
Lily, what are you doing there,
With your bells a-swing in the balmy air?
A light breeze, born of the morning hours,
Stole softly o'er the banks of flowers;
And listening closely, I seemed to hear,
Chimed in silvery voices clear,—
"We are blessing the earth with our wealth
of bloom;
We are loading the air with a rare perfume;
All things have. their mission, and God gives
us ours,
And this is a part of the mission of flowers:
To give life to the weary, and hope to the
sad,
Fresh faith to the faithless, new joys to the
glad;
To cheer the desponding, give strength to
the weak;
To bring health's bright bloom to the invalid's
cheek;
To blush on the brow of the beautiful bride;
To cheer homes of mourning where sorrow
betide;
To furnish the home with a lasting delight,
With our perfumes so lovely, our blossoms
so bright.
In low, voiceless language we're striving to
tell,
How God, in his wisdom, does everything
well."
The Creator has written on every leaf
And flower that unfolds in the summertime
brief,
A record of love and kindness and care
That surround us with beauty and grace
everywhere.
So violet, rosebud, and lily can show
God's bountiful love to his children below.
—Selected.