116 PINKS. CARNATIONS. 



Saxif raga umbro'sa, is one of them ; and though 

 so common in all our gardens, its natural situation 

 is on high mountains. 



The beautiful genus of Pinks, Dian'thus, which 

 includes all the varieties of Carnations and Sweet 

 Williams, is also in this order ; and there are five 

 or six native species of it. The fine double Car- 

 nations, that are so much admired, are only varie- 

 ties of the common Pink, Dian'thus caryophyl'lus : 

 but a botanist considers every thing as a deformity 

 which does not appear in a plant in its uncultivated 

 state ; and if I wished to examine the botanical 

 characters of a species of Dian'thus, I should choose 

 a wild specimen with a single flower. 



EDWARD. 



But don't you like double Carnations a great 

 deal better than single Pinks and Sweet Williams? 



MOTHER. 



I certainly do admire the wonderful variety and 

 beauty of their colours. Can you read these 

 lines ? 



EDWARD. 



Where is the labour of the loom 

 Can vie with the Carnation's bloom ? 

 He who can thus adorn a flower, 

 That 's doomed to perish in an hour, 

 Forbids his creatures to despair 

 His universal love to share. 



