260 THE FLORIST. 



of a garden unpretending in its character and narrowed in its area, 

 such, indeed, as may belong to a poor office- writer, with a stipend 

 not exceeding the wage of an ordinarily skilled mechanic, and oppor- 

 tunities for its culture most limited. Yet, still my garden has its 

 pleasures, sweet, and not transient ; still it is a delightful thing, 

 the " concentration of a thousand pleasant objects ;" still does me- 

 mory present, with fond affection, its long array of beauties unfaded ; 

 and many days of gloom and hours of monotonous toil will be re- 

 lieved to myself and my old office-chair by pleasant reveries on the 

 flowers that were, and fond anticipations of those to come. 



And shall I tell how pleasures so simple have been so sufficient ? 

 how with opportunities of the most limited degree, I have needed 

 never to repine ; and how my daily bouquet has rarely, for eight 

 months in the year, failed me ? Two short rules have sufficed. I 

 have confined myself to flowers of the easiest culture, and have 

 learned to be content with results easily attainable and within my 

 reach. Early rising has compensated for long office-hours, and 

 afforded time for those little attentions in themselves so sweet and 

 so delightfully requited. Strong health has been given to me for a 

 seeming sacrifice of rest ; and Nature seen in her dress of richly- 

 spangled dew, more gorgeous than diamonds or orient pearls in 

 beauty, has been my daily enjoyment. Then, indeed, are the many 

 glories of Nature most glorious ; then are her sweetest odours poured 

 forth ; then it is we are most ready to sing with Wordsworth : 



" God made the flowers to beautify 

 The earth and cheer man's careful mood ; 

 And he is happiest who hath power 

 To gather wisdom from a flower, 

 And wake his heart in every hour 

 To pleasant gratitude." 



Then it is when ''pleasant gratitude" rises most spontaneously to 

 the Author of all good for the richly-varied beauties around us ; then 

 is the Pansy most pleasant, the Pink most dehghtful, the Wall- 

 flower most sweet, the Rose most charming ; then strongest within 

 us is the love of those sweets 



" Which comfort man in his distress. 



Which smile when he is gay ; 

 Their fragrance and their loveliness 



They yield him day by day : 

 For patience and for humbleness, 



No servitors like they." 



And fostering them we reap a rich harvest of peace and content. 

 Such peace and such content, such pleasures as have been reaped by 

 a poor office-writer, may be realised by every one ; and it will gratify 

 his fervent wish if his brief reverie shall conduce, even in the least, 

 to a wider diffusion of the pleasures of a garden. 



Nemo. 



