NORFOLK SOCIETY. 305 



although the greatest attention is given to the field, and the 

 most time and labor is expended in improving the meadow, the 

 garden is not wholly neglected, nor its importance overlooked. 

 At the late fair, the tables were loaded with every variety 

 of fruit, and dishes graced with rich displays of the industri- 

 ous hand. The flowers appeared in dilferent lorms, — bloom- 

 ing and gay, fragrant and cheering, — giving joy to every eye 

 they met. 



We thought, however, of places far more beautiful, where 

 the sun shines, and the air breathes its invigorating influence. 

 There is the rural dwelling made tasteful and happy by the 

 hand of labor and art. The well arranged garden surrounds it, 

 with its numerous terraces and graveled walks. One one side 

 is the vine clinging to the trellis, and the grapes hang in rich 

 clusters from it. On the other side, the tree or the shrub is 

 loaded with delicious fruit. On its banks, beautiful and deli- 

 cate flowers unfold themselves to gratify the eye, and scatter 

 their fragrance on the passing breeze. This affords variety, 

 and gives pleasure to the man of study and refinement. Not 

 only so, but the cultivation of such a spot gives health and 

 vigor to the system, and exerts a happy influence over the 

 moral feelings. Industry naturally produces this. In this 

 branch of it, however, there is something peculiarly adapted to 

 mellow the feelings and smooth the roughness of our nature. 

 Especially is this the case if we associate much with flowers. 

 The bud, its opening leaves, its full bloom, its fragrance and 

 decay, remind us of man. We see childhood, youth, manhood, 

 usefulness, infirmities of age, declining years, the grave ; — 

 teaching us that " as the flower of the field so he flourisheth ; 

 for the wind passeth over it, and it is gone ; " and also, that we 

 should so improve the season of life, that when, like the flower, 

 we must fade and die, we might bloom with immortal beauty, 

 in the future world. 



THOMAS F. RICHMOND. 

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