JANUARY. 27 



ments of past days, can there grasp a multitude 

 of her delights at once. The sedentary man, 



Secluded but not buried, and with song 

 Cheering his days, 



there finds the most congenial relaxation, the 

 most restorative exercise ever at hand. The 

 lover of all bright hues and graceful forms, of 

 all delicate and spicy aromas, of curious pro- 

 cesses and wonderful phenomena, of all that is 

 soothing to the mind, and pleasant to the vision 

 and the taste, there walks in a fairy-land of his 

 own creation. There the sun shines tempered 

 by the coolness of whispering branches ; the 

 breeze blows softly, charged with fragrance, 

 the dews fall to refresh and awaken sleeping 

 odours, and birds bring from their wilder 

 haunts their melodies. To the fair creature, 

 who, like Eve, is a lover of flowers, what a per- 

 petual source of affectionate interest, of hopes, 

 and fears, and speculations, of delightful la- 

 bours, cares, and watchings, is found in a gar- 

 den ! Poets have always delighted to describe 

 their favourite heroines amid the amenities of 

 gardens, as places peculiarly accordant with the 

 grace and gentle nature of woman. How beau- 



