30 LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 



with them, we would place flowers the out-of- 

 door books Nature has so liberally provided for 

 us, in so rich a variety of types and bindings, 

 as to leave us no excuse for not gratifying all 

 our individual tastes. The lover of flowers has 

 this advantage over the lover of books, that he 

 can never be at a loss for variety ; but we 

 suspect the classification is somewhat arbitrary, 

 and that there is hardly any one who loves the 

 one, who does not also love the other. The 

 best way to enjoy either is to enjoy both ; to 

 take them alternately, so that they may relieve 

 and show off each other to the best advantage. 

 A walk in an open field, and one hour spent in 

 gathering wild flowers, to be afterwards grouped 

 into a vase upon the library table, is by no 

 means the least suggestive preparation for a 

 morning's reading." Yes, and then, as we 

 inhale their balmy freshness, and look upon 

 their beautiful hues, we shall thiuk of the spots 

 in which we have gatherered them, and our 

 spirits will become invigorated, our thoughts 

 more penetrating, and our minds strengthened 

 for the work before us. 



