MISCELLANEOUS PArERS. 401 



THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 



BY iMISS NELLIE WATKINS, KANSAS CITY, MO. 



" Now, nature hangs her mantle green, 



On every blooming tree, 

 And spreads her sheets of daisies white, 



Out o'er the grassy lea." 



First in the season are the Primroses and Snow Drops, which speak 

 of hope and purity, and coming thus after the long cold winter, are a fit 

 type of the resurrection. I think it was Mrs. Childs, who says: " How 

 the heart of man blesses flowers; they are rightly wreathed around the 

 cradle, the marriage alter, and the tomb; they should twine around the 

 tomb, for their perpetually renewed beauty is a symbol also, of the res- 

 urrection; they should festoon the altar, for their beauty and fragrance 

 ascend in perpetual worship before the Most High." 



Early in the season do we have the beautiful tulips, clad in purple 

 and gold, while in the woods at the same time is the moss-clad violet 

 fragrant and concealed, like hidden charity, also denoting faithfulness, 

 modesty and rural happiness; in the same family comes the Heartsease, 

 and Pansy, for thoughts. 



While none are more beautiful than the stately Lily, in its white pu- 

 rity, is so highly indicative of haughty pride, as to take from it much of 

 its sweetness; it has yet to learn humility. No matter how beautiful the 

 exterior, a heart which is careless of all save itself, will never gain the 

 highest reward; best that we learn of the Mignonette, which though sad 

 colored and not beautiful, gives forth a sweet perfume of humility and 

 care for others; not like the Roses, ot whom it is said: " truth and roses 

 have thorns about them, even if they arc royal and sweet, are filled with 

 the thorny branches of passion, and that makes nothing, be it flower 

 or mortal, fair." It is wisely said: " rule thyself, that you may wisely gov- 

 ern others." 



II. R. — 26. 



