The Influence of Flowers. 407 



and pleasant pursuit — not that all should have the same 

 daily occupation — but that there should be some sources of 

 pleasure open to all, and to increase which, all should in 

 their turn contribute. No employment, perhaps, can so effec- 

 tually give this union of purpose, and this sympathy of 

 feeling, as the cultivation of flowers. It opens a wide pros- 

 pect of enjoyment, with scenes to suit many varying tastes. 

 To the scientific mind, to one who loves to search out causes 

 and effects, to discover the hidden properties and qualities 

 of things, what an interesting and yet almost untrodden 

 field does botany present! Then to one whose heart pre- 

 dominates over the intellect; who delights in sentiment; who 

 prefers deep feeling to lofty thought, a garden yields many 

 exquisite delights. His poetic mind gathers much of its 

 finest imagery, its most beautiful thoughts, from the fra- 

 grance and loveliness of flowers, and it is quickened and 

 enlightened by the thoughtful contemplation of their varied 

 graces. 



And for humbler purposes, for less exalted natures, the 

 riches of Flora furnish many gratifications. For the morn- 

 ing drawing-room, or for the evening dress, there can be no 

 prettier or more appropriate ornaments than can be found 

 among her stores. And to the affectionate heart, what 

 sweeter tribute can be offered to the invalid mother, or the 

 declining sister, than the first fruits of the garden, and the 

 first buds of the rose. Even the little child laughs, in the 

 fulness of its happiness, when it is permitted to play with 

 the flowers, and fill its lap with buttercups and clover blos- 

 soms. 



And so it is in this one amusement; all ages and all tem- 

 pers can find an appropriate gratification; all may be made 

 more happy. It ministers, also, to man's moral nature. A 

 green-house, connected, as we sometimes see them, with the 

 most frequented apartments of a family, is, in winter, when 

 the garden is bereft of its beauty, and the orchard has yield- 

 ed its fruit, an almost unfailing source of interest. To enjoy, 

 when storms are beating without, and the chill of winter 

 speaks in the howling wind, the mild air, the fragrance, and 

 the beauty of this reserved fragment of summer, tends to 

 produce feelings of contentment and satisfaction — feelings 

 which show themselves forth in acts of kindness and words 

 of affection. 



Another advantage, which the cultivation of flowers affords 

 over other pleasures is, that it can hardly be wrested to evil. 

 Absorbing as it is, it produces no feverish excitement. Bring- 

 ing the mind into close contact with the loveliest things in 

 nature, it shuts out the vexatious feelings arising from col- 

 lision with the world. Its pleasures are all calm and tran- 



