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portion of the same amusement and gratification, has 

 been the only object of my botanical publications." 

 There is not, in fact, a flower in the garden, or 

 by the way-side, but has some beauty only unveiled 

 to the minute inquirer ; — some peculiarity in struc- 

 ture, fitting it for its destined place and purpose, and 

 yet not obvious to a casual glance. Many are 

 full of remembrances and associations, in which it is 

 good for us to indulge. To the enlightened student, 

 " a yellow primrose on the brim" is something more 

 than a yellow primrose. He is, to borrow the words 

 of the author of the Sketch Book, " continually com- 

 ing upon some little document of poetry in the blos- 

 somed hawthorn, the daisy, the cowslip, or some 

 other simple object that has received a supernatural 

 value from the muse." And as his pursuits lead him 

 into the most wild and beautiful scenes of Nature, 

 so his knowledge enables him to enjoy them with a 

 higher relish than others. They are " full of his 

 familiar friends," with whom he holds a kind of in- 

 tellectual communion, and finds from experience that 



" The meanest flower that blows can give 

 Thoughts that oft He too deep for tears." 



In the spirit of that pure natural religion, and full 

 of those ennobling sentiments which such contem- 

 plations always awaken, he is ready to exclaim in 

 the language of the poet. 



Nature in every form is lovely still; 

 Nothing in her is mean, nothing superfluous. 

 How wondrous is this scene ! where all is form'd 

 With number, weight, and measure ! — all design'd 

 For some great end ! — where not alone the plant 

 Of stately growth ; the herb of glorious hue, 



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