206 THE FLORIST. 



fragrance, and animate its organs of reproduction. If the being of 

 a God can be proved by well-defined marks of design in natural ob- 

 jects, then the argument need not be carried beyond a flower; and 

 while we hope that none of our readers require this proof to con- 

 vince them of the existence of a great Creator, we may express a 

 wish that their pleasing engagements will often confirm their assur- 

 ance that He is always near them, whose unquestionable signet is 



" Wrought in each flower,'inscribed on every tree." 



We leave this beaten track for one less common, and shall only 

 remark at present on the tendency of flowers to diffuse into our 

 hearts imperceptibly a sense of the great kindness of our heavenly 

 Father towards us. As the teaching of example is better than pre- 

 cept, so the constant testimony borne by vegetable life to the bene- 

 volent intentions of Him who is the source of it, is more forcible than 

 any doctrinal statement can be. We believe that the love of flowers 

 so strongly manifested by all children, arises in a great measure from 

 an intuitive perception that they are scattered around them with the 

 intention of contributing to their happiness. We have seen more 

 than the admiration of beauty, of shape, and colouring on the coun- 

 tenance of the child who explores every nook and corner, in spring, 

 for the purpose of forming a simple bouquet of wild flowers : when 

 looking upon and disj^laying its acquisitions, it is often deep affection 

 which brightens the eye and suffuses every feature with pure glad- 

 ness. The little one could not indeed frame a theological proposition 

 to express its ideas ; but the heart is evidently at work, and natural 

 piety is linking its best feelings with Him who communes with it in his 

 works, and to whom docility and unwavering confidence appeared the 

 best qualifications for an entrance into " the kingdom of heaven." 

 Advancing years, by increasing our self-confidence, and diminishing 

 our faith in the constant presence of our Maker, destroy too often 

 this beautiful simplicity of character. Instead of being satisfied with 

 what is given us with daily and generous profusion, we look for 

 " signs and wonders," and close that book of Nature whose charac- 

 ters conveyed such a charm to our young and unsophisticated spirits. 

 Those must be losers who, after roaming in search of flowers in child- 

 hood, give up all acquaintance w^ith them in after life ; and therefore 

 we think good must accrue, in various degrees, when that simple 

 intercourse is either kept up or renewed. 



How pleasing is the thought which sound reason encourages us 

 to entertain, that from the beginning of the year unto its close, there 

 is in the domain of Nature an uninterrupted effort to contribute to 

 our comfort and happiness ! In the several seasons our wants are 

 considered, — but this is not all ; our imagination, our sense of the 

 beautiful, and our intellectual tendencies, all find their appropriate 

 objects in close connexion with utility. And lest our attention 

 should flag from a constant uniformity of operation and of scene, 

 the spectacles presented are as various as the months, and almost 

 as the days. Even the winter season gives occasion for some special 

 beauties to win the eye and the heart ; the spring enchants by its 



