I saw how poor was the full-blown blaze That had charmed my senses and won my praise; And I thought at last of the timid flower Which had pined unheeded for cooling shower, But drought unslaked had her life-spring dried; So, fading and faded, she drooped and died. I saw too now, with awakening eyes, How near I had been to my longed-for prize; One half of the care I had spent in vain— Care that had brought me but grief and pain— If spent on the rose that had pined away, Would have reared a flower so chastely gay, That the joy of its countless charms untold My care had repaid a thousandfold. Ah! how oft in the toil and strife, The chances and changes which we call life, By slight and neglect in time of need, We kill the flower, and we rear the weed; Then when we see it, and know too late, We blame not ourselves, but curse our fate, For no solace have we on which to lean, When we know what we long for might have been. * * * * * The Conductors of CHAMBERS’S JOURNAL beg to direct the attention of CONTRIBUTORS to the following notice: _1st._ All communications should be addressed to the ‘Editor, 339 High Street, Edinburgh.’ _2d._ To insure the return of papers that may prove ineligible, postage-stamps should in every case accompany them. _3d._ MANUSCRIPTS should bear the author’s full _Christian_ name, surname, and address, legibly written. _4th._ MS. should be written on one side of the leaf only. _5th._ Poetical offerings should be accompanied by an envelope, stamped and directed. _Unless Contributors comply with the above rules, the Editor cannot undertake to return ineligible papers._ * * * * * Printed and Published by W. & R. CHAMBERS, 47 Paternoster Row, LONDON, and 339 High Street, EDINBURGH. * * * * * _All Rights Reserved._