OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS 



VI 



HAS this earth of ours a fairer orna- 

 ment of its hours of leisure than the 

 care of flowers ? It was beautiful to see 

 thus collected for the pleasure of the 

 eyes, around the house of my placid 

 friend, the splendid throng that tills the 

 light to win from it marvellous colours, 

 honey and perfumes. He found there 

 translated into visible joys, fixed at the 

 gates of his house, the scattered, fleet- 

 ing and almost intangible delights of 

 summer, the voluptuous air, the cle- 

 ment nights, the emotional sunbeams, 

 the glad hours, the confiding dawn, 

 the whispering and mysterious azured 

 space. He enjoyed not only their daz- 

 C 28 U 



