AN EXCURSION. 



contrasting beautifully with the soft mottled white 

 Vanda and butterfly-like Phalaenopsis. 



Yet another scene of glorious beauty awaited our 

 inspection and we hastened to 



THE FLOWER GARDEN 



which, though the season had somewhat advanced, was 

 still a blaze of colours, pink, white, yellow, blue, and 

 crimson, all arranged in beds of appropriate design, and 

 in such artistic fashion as to bring about a delightful 

 effect. Apart, however, from its resplendent loveliness, 

 redolent of sweet but subdued fragrance, the place had 

 another charm for us. Here was a profusion of flowers 

 mostly exotic, about many of which we had read in 

 books of poetry and fiction ; but, though they were fami- 

 liar by name, we were as ignorant of their identity 

 as babes unborn. The foremost flower to attract our 

 attention was the Daisy, which recalled to our minds 

 Wordsworth's beautiful lines ; 



Daisy ! again I talk to thee, 



For thou art worthy, 

 Thou unassuming Common-place 

 Of Nature, with that homely face, 

 And yet with something of a grace, 



Which Love makes for thee ! 



The Daisy is indeed a flower of unassuming grace. 

 The more we looked at it the more we realized the truth 

 of the sentiments embodied in the following stanza : 



I see thee glittering from afar 

 And then thou art a pretty star ; 

 Not quite so fair as many are 

 In heaven above thee ! 



