170 WILD FLOWERS. 



The primrose and the violet, the cowslip and 

 the daffodil, and all the sweet dwellers in the 

 green lanes, and the shady woods, and the 

 sunny meadows, have ever been the especial 

 favorites, not only of those, who being denied 

 access to the conservatory and the parterre, are 

 not brought into contact with the more richly 

 tinted and gorgeous productions of foreign 

 climes, but also of the whole race of poets, 

 many of whom are surrounded with these 

 splendid exotics, in their dwellings, 'and every 

 day walks ; and most, or all of whom, enjoy 

 frequent opportunities of observing and ad- 

 miring them ; and yet for poems in praise of 

 the geranium and the cactus, we might search 

 in vain ; while for those which celebrate the 

 " wildings of nature," have we not enough to 

 fill volumes ? Aye ! volumes fraught with 

 beauty and fragrance, of which this is but a 

 foretaste and a specimen. 



Not only with vine leaves and ears of corn 



Is nature dress'd, but 'neath the feet of man, 



As at a sovereign's feet, she scatters flowers, 



And sweet and useless plants, which, born to please, 



Disdain to serve." MADAME DE STAEL. 



