MORAL OF FLOWERS. 65 



" Nature has scattered around us on every 

 side, and for every sense, an inexhaustible pro- 

 fusion of beauty and sweetness, if we will but 

 perceive it;" for to continue the same writer 

 *< The pleasures we derive from flowers, from 

 musical sounds, and the forms of trees, are 

 surely not given us in vain, and if we are con- 

 stantly alive to these, we can never be in want 

 of subjects of agreeable contemplation, and must 

 be habitually cheerful." Yes most assuredly 



"God made the flowers to beautify 

 The earth, and cheer man's careful mood, 

 And he is happiest who hath power 

 To gather wisdom from a flower, 

 And wake his heart in every hour 



To pleasant gratitude/' WORDSWORTH. 



It is only in contemplations such as these, 

 that we can hope to obtain true happiness ; the 

 feverish joys of the world are short-lived and 

 unsatisfactory ; like gilded dreams that haunt 

 the sick man's couch, making his waking hours 

 more painful from the contrast, they are ever 

 mingled with alloys ; it is a poisoned chalice 

 from which we drink the enchanted potion : 



