ANNUAL MEETING AT NEVADA. 353 



and is a perfect emblem of that love that soothes and comforts in ad- 

 versity. It is said that the people of the east have sent messages of im- 

 portance by means of boquets. But I think the language lives almost 

 entirely for sentiment and for happy lovers who send tender love mes- 

 sages in this sweet way ; perhaps they know their power of pleading. 

 I will close with Leigh Hunt's playful lines on the "Language of flowers:" 



"An exquisite invention this, 



Worthy of love's most honeyed kiss. 



This art of writing billet doux 



In buds, and odors and bright hues. 



In saying all one feels and thinks 



In clever daffodils and pinks, 



Uttering, (as well as silence may,) 



The sweetest things, the sweetest way ; 



How fit, too, for a lady's bosom , 



The place where billet doux repose 'em ! 



How charming in some rural spot, 



Combining love with garden plot, 



At once to cultivate one's flowers, and one's epistolary powers, 



Growing one's own choice words and fancies, 



In orange tubs and beds of pansies ; 



One's sighs and passionate declarations. 



In odorous rhet'ric of carnations ; 



Seeing how far one's stocks will reach ; 



Taking due care one's flowers of speech 



To guard from blight as well as bathos, 



And watering every day one's pathos. 



A letter comes just gathered, we 



Dote on its tender brilliancy ; 



Inhale its delicate expression 



Of balm and pea ; and its confession 



Made with as sweet a maiden blush 



As ever morn bedewed on bush ; 



And then when we have kissed its wit and heart, in water putting it. 



To keep its remarks fresh, go round 



Our little eloquent plot of ground. 



And with delightful hands compose 



Our answer of lily and rose. 



Of tube rose and of violet, 



11. K. — 23. 



