100 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



find the mystic types of our moods and emotions. She pleads for the 

 preservation of God's own beautifiers. 



Miss Amanda Evans, of Ilarlcm, then delighted the audience with a 

 touching declamation, "Sister and I." It was highly appreciated. The 

 choir then gave a selection from " Ruth and Boaz." Mrs. O'Fallon read 

 a paper on flowers, which showed her nature and that of flowers to be in 

 close harmony. She read loud. Thanks. The following is her essay: 



FLOWERS. 



BY MRS. CARRIE O'FALLON, OREGON, MO. 



Flowers are considered among nature's most beautiful productions. 

 Their apparel surpasses that of any earthly king, even Solomon in all his 

 glory. They are the objects of almost universal admiration, scattered 

 as they are with such profusion over the whole earth. For wherever 

 man has wandered from shore to mountain top from the fertile valley 

 to the sandy plain, everyiuhere, as if planted by the very hand of God, 

 they spread their mantles of loveliness. 



Nor does nature ever weary of saying over her floral pater-noster, 

 from the first bud awakened in the spring 'till snow again spreads her 

 mantle over all, the same succession of blossoms is repeated year after 

 year, 



" In all places then, and in all seasons, 

 Flowers expand their light and soul-like wings." 



But their profusion has not caused us to be unmindful of their 

 beauty and influence. 



Their graceful forms, delicate structures, brilliant colors, and sweet 

 perfume speak to us of purity and goodness. 



The praise of their beauty is indeed freely given by all; but very 

 few bestow anything more upon them than their admiration. 



In Palestine, amid the gorgeous colored lilies that grow there in 

 such profusion, Christ said to his disciples: — "Consider the lilies of the 



