350 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



After another song, the following essay was read: 



AMONG THE FLOWERS." 



BY MISS MARY KEELING, NEVADA. 



"Flowers, as the changing seasons roll along, 



Still wait on earth and added beauties lend; 



Around the smiling Spring a lovely throng. 



With eager rivalry her steps attend; 



Others with Summer's brighter glories blend; 



Some grace, mild Autumn's more majestic mien; 



While some few lingering blooms the brow befriend. 



Of hoary winter, and with grace serene, 



Enwreath the King of storms with mercies' gentle sheen." 

 What a lovely, glorious throng they are, and how welcome, "more 

 welcome than a friend whose zeal outruns his promise." How like a 

 happy band of fairies they seem, winning back the sweet breath of sum- 

 mer with their sunny gladness. Of all the myriad host, the first in my 

 thoughts to-night is the poor despised little dandelion, because I feel so 

 much like one of those humble flowers among a great garden of beau- 

 tiful roses and lilies and geraniums, and other beautirul flowers, who 

 nod their heads triumphantly toward it, as if to say: Poor little dan- 

 delion ! What can you do ! How we pity you ! But I donbt not that 

 even the dandelion has its mission. It flourishes by the dusty roadside. 

 But it seems to me that they all clasp hands and come on one 

 beautiful mission, to woo our hearts from earth to that sweet land that is 

 ever blooming with flowers more fragrant and more beautiful. They are 

 bright glimpses of heaven. How they smile away the gloom. 



I have read that when poor Queen Marie Antoinette, of France, 

 (she who was once like a beautiful rose herself and Queen over a proud 



