Lillies of the Valley.

O, pearly, waxen, lilly bells! Glad the tale your coming tells— Blithest time, of all the year, Happy, blooming spring is here With lillies-of-the-valley. Shining like the precious gem, Divers bring from ocean’s floor; God in blessing scattered them Blooming by the humblest door; Springing in some sheltered nook, Peeping by a mouldering wall, Nodding by a babbling brook, Purest, sweetest flowers of all, Are lillies-of-the-valley. Hidden from life’s cares and frets Is the loved embowered spot Sacred to our floral pets— Lillies and forget-me-not; Tho’ the poet’s fondest dream Wreaths about the violet, With the morning’s dew agleam, Lovlier and sweeter yet Are lillies-of-the-valley. Roses fade and fall apart— Lose their beauty with their bloom, In the lillies perfect heart Lingers long its sweet perfume; Mem’ries dear we’ll ne’er forget, With their tender thrills of bliss, Hover round the mignonette, Yet, a charm supreme to this, Have lillies-of-the-valley. Queens of color, tall and proud Bloom among the asphodels, But of all that lauded crowd None so loved as lilly bells! Pansy bright with dreamy eyes Seems acquaint with mystic lore, Whispers “hope” when sorrow sighs, Yet, we love the lillies more, Sweet lillies-of-the-valley. They will breathe the tender thought Sympathy would fain reveal, But, with love’s fond message fraught, Half their charm is to conceal. Lillies of the Valley. Rosebud boldly tells the tale Cupid sent it to confess— With the fragrance they exhale Lillies whisper,—“You may guess.”