8 THE SNOW-DROP. 



curse of an offended God. Next after the blessed 

 bible, a flowrr-gdiden is lo me the most eloquent 

 of books — a vohinie teeming with inslruclion, con- 

 solation, and reproof, 



But there is yet another, and somewhat fancifnl 

 view, thai I delight to take of these fair things, 

 my course las lain Jhrongh a busy and a chequer- 

 ed path ; I have been subjected lo many changes 

 of place, and have encounlered a great variely of 

 characters, who have passed before mc like visions 

 of the ni;rlii leaving but ihe remembrance of 

 what they were. I have frequently in my lonely 

 rambles among ihe flowers, assimilated one and 

 another of them to those unforgolten individuals, 

 until ihey became almost identified ; and my 

 garden bears a nomenclalnrc which no eye but 

 mine can decypher. Yet if the reader be pleased 

 to accompany me into this parterre, I will exhibit 

 a specimen or two of what I am tempted to call 

 floral biography ; humbly trusting that He who 

 commended to our consideration the growth of 

 the lilies, will be wii.h us, to impart that blessing 

 without which our walks, and words, and thoughts, 

 must be alike unprofilably — sinfully vain. 



Ii glancing around the denuded garden, at this 

 chilling season, we can scarsely fail to fix our re- 

 gards upon ihe snow-drop, which bows its trem- 

 bling head benenlh the blast. Every body loves 

 llie delicate snt)w-drop ; I will not slop to repeat 



