THE GARDENER AND ROSE-TREE.

"A FABLE."

Affectionately addressed to Mrs. J. H. of her child, by her truly sympathising friend,

MARCH 12, 1798.

"IN a sweet spot, which Wisdom chose,
Grew an unique and lovely Rose;

A flow'r so fair was seldom borne-
V Rose almost without a thorn.
Each passing stranger stopp'd to view
A plant possessing charms so new;

on the death

"Sweet flow'r!" each lip was heard to say-
Nor less the Owner pleas'd than they:
Rear'd by his hand with constant care,
And planted in his choice parterie,
Of all his garden this the pride,
No flow'r so much admir'd beside.
Nor did the Rose unconscious bloom,
Nor feel ungrateful for the boon;
Oft as her guardian came that way,
Whether at dawn or eve of day,
Expanded wide-her form unvail'd,
She double fragrance then exhal'd.

As months roll'd on, the spring appear'd,
Its genial rays the Rose matur'd;
Forth from its root a shoot extends-
The parent Rose-tree downward bends,
And, with a joy unknown before,
Contemplates the yet embryo flow'r.

"Offspring most dear (she fondly said,)
Part of myself! beneath my shade,
Safe shalt thou rise, whilst happy I,

Transported with maternal joy,

Shall see thy little buds appear,

Unfold and bloom in beauty here.
'What though the Lilly or Jonquil,
'Or Hyacinth no longer fill

The space around me-All shall be
'Abundantly made up in thee.

S. P.

'What though my present charms decay, And passing strangers no more say

Of me, 'Sweet flow'r!'-Yet thou shalt raise Thy blooming head, and gain the praise, And this reverberated pleasure 'Shall be to me a world of treasure. 'Cheerful I part with former merit, That if my darling may inherit,

Haste then the hours which bid thee bloom,
And fill the zephyrs with perfume!'

Thus had the Rose-tree scarcely spoken,
Ere the sweet cup of bliss was broken-
The Gard'ner came, and with one stroke
He from the root the offspring took;
Took from the soil wherein it grew,
And hid it from the parent's view.
Judge ye, who know a mother's cares
For the dear tender babe she bears,
The parent's anguish-ye alone
Such sad vicissitudes have known.

Deep was the wound; nor slight the pain Which made the Rose-tree thus complain: 'Dear little darling! art thou goneThy charms scarce to thy mother known! 'Remov'd so soon!-So suddenly, 'Snatch'd from my fond maternal eye! • What hadst thou done? dear offspring! say,

So early to be snatch'd away!

What! gone for ever! seen no more!

For ever I thy loss deplore,

Ye dews descend, with tears supply
My now forever tearful eye;

'Or rather come some northern blast,
Dislodge my yielding roots in haste.
Whirlwinds arise, my branches tear,
And to some distant region bear

Far from this spot, a wretched mother,
• Whose fruit and joys are gone together.
As thus the anguish'd Rose-tree cry'd,
Her Owner near her she espy'd;

Who in these gentle terms reprov'd
A plant, though murm'ring, still belov'd.

'Cease, beauteous flow'r, these useless cries,
And let my lessons make thee wise,

་ Art thou not mine? Did not my hand
Transplant thee from the barren sand,
Where once a mean unsightly plant,
Expos'd to injury and want,

་

Unknown, and unadmir'd, I found,
And brought thee to this fertile ground;
With studious art improv'd thy form,
Secur'd thee from the inclement storm,
And through the seasons of the year,

Made thee my unabating care?

Hast thou not blest thy happy lot,

In such an owner-such a spot?

But now, because thy shoot I've taken,

Thy best of friends must be forsaken.

Know, flower belov'd e'en this affliction
Shall prove to thee a benediction:

Had I not the young plant remov❜d,
(So fondly by thy heart belov'd)

Of me thy heart would scarce have thought,
With gratitude no more be fraught:
-Yea-thy own beauty be at stake
Surrender'd for thy offspring's sake.
Nor think, that hidden from thine eyes,
The infant plant neglected lies-

No-I've another garden where

In richer soil and purer air

It's now transplanted there to shine

• In beauties fairer far than thine.

Nor shalt thou always be apart
From the dear darling of thy heart;
For 'tis my purpose thee to bear

In future time, and plant thee there,
Where thy now absent off-set grows,
And blossoms a CELESTIAL Rose.

V

Be patient, then, till that set hour shall come

When thou and thine shall in new beauties bloom:

No more its absence shalt thou then deplore,

Together grow and ne'er be parted more.'

These words to silence hush'd the plaintive Rose, With deeper blushes redd'ning now she glows, Submissive bow'd her unrepining head,

Again her wonted, grateful fragrance shed-
Cry'd, 'Thou hast taken only what's thine own,
Therefore thy will, my Lord, not mine, be done.'

CONTENTS.

Extracts on Affliction,

Letter from Mr. F. to Mrs. H. on the death of her

to Mrs. Melville, do.

husband,

Rev. Dr.

Rev. T. Biddulph to the same,

do.

Rev. Dr. Trotter to Mrs. Jones, do.

*Extract of a letter to a lady,

Page

5

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Letter from the Rev. W. B. Cadogan, to Alexander
Murray, on the death of his wife,

Extract of a letter from a Clergyman,

*

*

Rev. J. Berridge to Mr. Edwards, do.
Rev. Robt. Hall to Mr. Harwood, do.
Rev. C. S.

do.

do.

do.

Rev. Mr. Balfour to Mr. Denison, on the

death of his own son,

Rev. R. S.

-, do.

*Three letters from the Rev.

on the death of her child,

Rev. T. Biddulph to Miss C. on the death

*A letter from the Rev.

*

of her mother,

from a Minister,

*

Rev. R. S. on the death of a sister,

to a friend on the death of his Minister,

*Two letters from Rev. R. J. M. to a friend under spi-

to the same, from his brother,

from the Rev. Mr. Bull to Mrs. Wilber-
force, with her remarks on the letter,
Letter from the Rev. Mr. Fletcher to Miss Ireland,
from the same to James Ireland, Esq.

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