294 THE GUERNSEY LILY. 



the expanded cluster with its embryo appearance, 

 I am lost in admiration. 



This beautiful lily had long been a favourite, but 

 for years past I had not possessed one. A dear 

 friend in the Lord, though personally a stranger, 

 inhabiting one of the lovely isles where the flower 

 is naturalized, was tempted by the tale of my lost 

 verbena, to send me one of her own rearing, across 

 the sea ; while another sister, both loved and 

 known, added half a dozen roots of the Lily, just 

 on the point of throwing out their flower-stalks. 

 I potted the little treasures in a mass, and soon 

 after left home for a few days . Returning, I was 

 delighted to find my Lilies in full expansion : and 

 as I gazed upon the clusters glowing in beauty and 

 grace, I could not but exclaim, " No ; Solomon in 

 all his glory v/as not arrayed like one of these." 



The transition is so easy and natural, as to be 

 in my mind almost inevitable, from the contem- 

 plation of a folded and dusky blossom thus sud- 

 denly assuming its station among other plants, a 

 bright and perfect flower, to that of a spirit, burs- 

 ting its mortal enclosure, and standing, arrayed in 

 celestial glory, among the redeemed ones who 

 encircle the throne of the Most High. Propor- 

 tioned to .the sharpness of their trials, and the 

 gloom of their earthly lot, is the delight that ac- 

 companies this consideration ; and if the flower be 

 like my Guernsey Lily, of a very uninviting as- 



