FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 407 



of the forbidden fruit, and man as easily yields to the temptation 

 now as then. There is no end to woman's selfish desires for 

 riches. She tempts man to pro*cure them and he yields not un- 

 willingly. She incites man to acquire the means to adorn her 

 person, thinking thereby to make herself beautiful — like mother 

 Eve sewing- together leaves to cover her nakedness. If, instead 

 of this fatiguing employment aloue, she would consent to live in 

 the garden amidst fruit and flowers, and by healthful exercise 

 bring out the beauties of the soul, she would make herself much 

 more charming in her simplicity, than she would be in all the 

 embellishment that wealth can procure. 



As woman tempted man so that he was driven from the Garden, 

 she should now endeavor to bring him back into it again ; to do 

 this she must first return herself, for where woman is there man 

 will be also. If she will do this, man will begin to live for others 

 instead of for self alone, and will find utility in the cultivation 

 of fruit and flowers, and his evil passions will give place to 

 the better qualities of his nature, and the earth instead of produc- 

 ing thorns and thistles, will yield nothing but what is good, 

 beautiful and useful. If all mankind would live a good and pure 

 life, then the earth would produce no weeds, briars or noxious 

 fruits, and there would no destructive fires or tornadoes and 

 nothing to destroy our crops, no pestilential air to breathe, and 

 man would live without disease and pain, and his dissolution 

 woul&aiot take place until he became fully ripe with age. Sufl&r- 

 ing and sorrow would cease upon the earth. This may seem 

 imaginary, yet it must be a reality. God created man for a good 

 and wise purpose, and his desire is that all men should be happy. 

 The time is coming when all will be provided for. Within the last 

 half century more progress has been made in the arts and sciences, 

 agriculture and horticulture, institutions of charity and benevo- 

 lence, asylums for the deaf and dumb and blind, and for homes 

 for the poor and unfortunate, than in all time previous. Man is 

 being lifted up into a higher and purer state. Vice is giving way 

 to virtue and poverty to plenty. Wherever you find the most 

 attention given to scientific agriculture and horticulture, you will 

 findthe greatest advancement made in these benevolent institu- 

 tions and more especially where much attention is given to the 

 culture of fruit and flowers. The time spent in their cultivation 

 is recreation rather than labor. It improves the health and 

 elevates the spirits. 



