SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 297 



Who has not heard of the Vale of Cashmere, " with its roses," the 

 bri<?litest that earth ever gave. Cicero slept on a couch of roses and 

 violets, as did many another noble Roman. Projx^rtiiis, a Roman 

 poet, was buried in them, as lie sings that the earth might lie lightly 

 on his grave. 



In the earliest spring-time the twin pioneer of florax, the jirim- 

 rose and the violet, make all the dell and way-side of England bright 

 with their blue and yellow' blossoms, while the air is filled with their 

 combined fragrance. 



The Arab stops a moment in his wild flight o'er the burning 

 sands to pluck a leaf of the fragrant myrrh for his dark-eyed 

 mistress, while the sturdy Laj) in his furry coat looks for a sprig of 

 the delicate daphne for his fair-haired maiden. 



"Are there I ask beneath tlie sky, 

 Hlossoms that find so close a tie 

 With childliood's lovel Can any please 

 Or liglit tlie infant eye like these? 



Xol no I there's not a bud on earth, 

 Of richest tint or warmest birth. 

 Can ever lling such zeal and zest 

 Into the tiny liands and breast." 



Wlio does not recollect the hours. 

 When burning words and praise 

 Were lavished on these shining llowers. 



The beautiful custom of crowning the young bride with a chap- 

 let of flowers has obtained in all ages. The choicest gems of Flora's 

 kingdom were culled to grace marriage festivities. The ancients 

 fashioned the bridal wreath of the beautiful myrtle, while now the 

 orange blossom is used almost exclusively. 



Blossoms, says Phliny, "are the joy of trees," and wherever 

 these beautiful creatures are found, they seem to say to us: " Yes, be 

 joyful too, that darkness of thy lot is only the avenue through which 

 thou art passing, (jod, who is good to the flowers and blossoms of 

 the trees, will not forget thee." 



GLKAN1N(J!S FliOM FIELD AND FOREST. 



KY MRS. WM. ZUPPAN, WARSAW. 



" To him who in tlu^ love of nature, holds 

 Connnunion with her visible forms, she 

 Speaks a various language." 



Nature is emphatically the great teacher. Men are but students, 

 and the wisest are they who go oftenest to her for instruction. 

 Beauty of every kind is formed to captivate, and there is this peculiar 

 advantage in contemplating the beauties of vegetable nature, that 

 we may permit our hearts to be ensnared by them without apprehen- 



