FLOWERS. 49 



minute flowers lies; so that what is commonly re- 

 garded as one, consists sometimes of hundreds of 

 blossoms. Each of these being a complete flower, 

 with its corolla, pistil, stamens and seed-vessel, as 

 may readily be seen under the microscope. 



Many beautiful compound flowers ornament our 

 gardens during the summer and autumn. The stately 

 sun-flower, which grows to an immense size in the 

 woods and plains of Mexico, and excited the astonish- 

 ment of the Spanish conquerors; the bright mari- 

 golds, some of which bloom in almost every month 

 of the year; the dahlias and chrysanthemums, with 

 those dear friends the daisies, which welcome the 

 spring, and around whose quaint little name so many 

 associations cluster. 



4 Not worlds on worlds, in phalanx deep, 



Need we to prove a God is here ; 

 The daisy, fresh from Nature's sleep, 

 Tells of his hand in lines as clear. 



For who but He who arched the skies 

 And pours the day-spring's living flood, 



Wondrous alike in all he tries, 



Could raise the daisy's purple bud; 



Mould its green cup, its wiry stem, 



Its fringed border nicely spin, 

 And cut the gold-embossed gem 



That, set in silver, gleams within; 



And fling it, unrestrained and free, 

 O'er hill and dale, and desert sod, 



That man, where'er he walks, may see 

 In every step the hand of God?" 



5 i> 



