j6 4 THE OLIVE LEAF. CHAP. 



out into rainbow splendour. It is a revelation as 

 through an open door of the loveliness that in the other 

 parts is concealed by the common garments of eco- 

 nomic use. The plant clings to the skirts of life with 

 the utmost tenacity until it can show this beautiful 

 reason for its existence : and when it has told in bloom 

 of petal and fragrance of honey-cup the precious life- 

 secret, it is content to die, like the dolphin, in its own 

 sunset hues. It is in the flower-face that we recognize 

 the kinship of the flowers their relationship to each 

 other, and the differences that distinguish them. It 

 is in the flower-face that the plant aspires to the 

 human nature, breathes as man breathes, sleeps as he 

 sleeps, and up to its own straightened limits loves as 

 he loves; for the gay colours and sweet odours and 

 graceful forms of the blossom are literally the signs of 

 the deep inbreathing spirit of love in nature, the pre- 

 parations for the bridal hour in the plant. The flower- 

 face too, like the human, is thus seen to be made for 

 the social life ; for the leaf belongs to the individual, 

 and the blossom to the race. And just as Stephen's 

 face looked like the face of an angel when he was 

 dying the martyr's death, and Jesus was transfigured 

 when He spoke of the decease which He should 

 accomplish at Jerusalem, and the skin of Moses' 

 countenance shone when he sacrificed himself for the 

 good of Israel on the Mount; as sometimes, in rare 

 moments of the soul's supremacy, we see our friends 

 lifted up by some noble act of self-denial above them- 

 selves, putting on the heavenly face that shall be theirs 





