ANNUAL WINTER MEETING AT WARRENSBURG. 231 



pital — 50 bags confections, 50 magazines. Good Samaritan Hospital — 

 60 bags fruit and confections, 60 magazines, 7 volumes German class- 

 ics, literature, a basket of toys and 60 Christmas cards. Ciiildren's 

 Hospital — One dozen home-made jellies. 



Carriages were kindly loaned by Mrs. J. J. Mitchell, Mrs. Wm. 

 Gaus, Mrs. Maggie Ilendell and Mrs. Keener. The work has been ac- 

 complished by the efforts of the following ladies : Mesdames Barnard, 

 Coe, Crawford, Cooper, Cavan, Gaus, Hays, Street, Paufts, Smith, and 

 Misses Connon, McGarrah and Haynes. 



The following formal document was drawn up by the ladies : 

 In rejoicing over the Christmas work of the Flower Mission, the 

 ladies desire to return their thanks to the many kind friends who have 

 made this effort to make some gleams of joy to the unfortunates in our 

 poor house and hospital so perfect a success. They are but the dis- 

 tributors of the bounty of others, and it would be a pleasant task, 

 did time permit, to mention each by name; this, is impossible, for 

 t'lere are legions. To the mayor, health commissioner, and to the ben- 

 efactors in the city and its environs, to each and all, the ladies hereby 

 rsturn their grateful acknowledgment. 



BEAUTIES AND WONDERS OF THE FLORAL WORLD. 



BY MRS. ^VADE BORDEN, OF SPRINGFIELD. 



Flowers are our earliest instructors. Their silent lessons of purity 

 and grace leave their impressions on the mind at its most susceptible 

 period. We gaze with rapture on their unfolding beauties. We de- 

 light to decorate our persons with them and beautify our homes. We 

 bring them as offerings to the sick bed, and strew them over the bier 

 of the dead. The study of a single plant has been known to convert a 

 hardened sceptic, leading him from " nature to nature's God." This was 

 the mission of Picciola, the prison flower. Our very existence depends 

 on the larger plants and trees ; they furnish our food and medicine, 

 gratify our taste, afford the material for building and furnishing our 



