CHILDREN AND FLOWERS. 9 ( J 



before him in all their pristine freshness and 

 beauty. The soul, as it approaches more nearly 

 to its Creator, becomes purified ; the fogs arid 

 mists of prejudice and folly are swept away, 

 and it is enabled more clearly to distinguish, 

 and better to appreciate the value of that state 

 of innocence, which is an antetype of the angelic. 

 It longs to be once more as a little child, having 

 now -come to a right understanding of our 

 Saviour's words, Suffer little children to 

 come unto me, and forbid them not ; for of 

 such is the kingdom of Heaven. 11 



" Oh, world of sweet phantoms, how pleasant thou art ! 

 The past is perpetual youth to the heart." L. E. L. 



Sang one who perished, like a just expanded 

 rose on which the blight has suddenly fallen ; 

 and KEATS, the pure, the gentle-hearted, he, 



" Who grew 



Like a pale flower by some sad maiden cherished, 

 And fed with true-love tears, instead of dew." SHELLS p, 



Was it not this feeling which prompted him, 

 on the bed of dissolution, to exclaim, that " he 

 felt the daisies growing over him ?" 



