122 WILD FLOWERS. 



And thrill with the rich melody of birds 



Living their life of music ; and be glad 



In the gay sunshine, reverent in the storm ; 



And see a beauty in the stirring leaf, 



And find calm thoughts beneath the whispering tree, 



And see, and hear, and breathe the evidence 



Of God's deep wisdom in the natural world ;"* 



and we shall learn that 



" Mountains, and oceans, planets, suns, and systems, 

 Bear not the impress of Almighty power 

 In characters more legible, than those 

 "Which he hath written on the tiniest flower, 

 Whose light bells bend beneath the dew-drop ; " f 



and shall see that 



" Wondrous truths, and manifold as wondrous, 



God hath written in the stars above ; 

 But not less in the bright flowerets under us 

 Stands the revelation of his lover J 



Unchangeable is the truth that, "Si Tauteur de 

 la nature est grand dans les grandes choses, il est 

 tres grand dans les petites ;" wisely then, like the 

 old philosopher, Sir Thomas Browne, shall we study 

 the mighty book of nature, " that universal and pub- 

 lic manuscript that lies expanded unto the eyes of 

 all." 



" For not, oh, not alone to charm our sight, 

 Gave God the blooming flowers, the leaves of light. 

 They speak a language which we yet may learn 



A divination of mysterious might ! 

 And glorious thoughts may angel-eyes discern 



Flower- writ in mead, and vale, where'er man's footsteps 

 turn." |j 



* N. P. Willis. f Bell. J Longfellow. Eousseau. 

 II Charles Swain. 



