Letters to a Friend 



place; every leaf had its proper taper and tex 

 ture and exact measure of green. Only P. pra- 

 tensis seemed out of place, and as might be ex 

 pected it proved to be an intruder, belonging 

 to a field or bouquet in Europe. Can it be that 

 a single flower or weed or grass in all these 

 prairies occupies a chance position? Can it be 

 that the folding or curvature of a single leaf is 

 wrong or undetermined in these gardens that 

 God is keeping? 



The most microscopic portions of plants are 

 beautiful in themselves, and these are beau 

 tiful combined into individuals, and undoubt 

 edly all are woven with equal care into one 

 harmonious, beautiful whole. 



I have the analysis of two other handfuls of 

 prairie plants which I will show you another 

 time. 



We hope to be in Madison in about three 

 weeks. 



To me all plants are more precious than be 

 fore. My poor eye is not better or worse. A 

 cloud is over it, but in gazing over the widest 

 [30] 



