244 A FLOWER CHRISTENING. 



christened there, nobody would presume hereafter to 

 change them. 



On descending below, he found ten or twelve per- 

 sons seated round a large table, drinking porter, 

 smoking tobacco, and betting upon the pans of 

 flowers of their respective masters ; for our London 

 tip-top florists never go unattended to those feasts. 

 Sam was invited to drink, and a few moments' con- 

 versation soon put them all upon one convivial footing 

 of good fellowship. He began to find himself quite 

 at home, and thought himself extremely lucky in the 

 opportunity thus afforded him of asking their advice 

 and counsel; in truth, these fellows generally know 

 as much or more about flowers than their employers, 

 for they are the operative florists, while the others, 

 in general, are only lookers-on. Sam took from the 

 box his best scarlet-bizarred Carnation, and desired 

 the company to give a name to it. 



Tom Tulip, as the oldest fancier in the room, 

 took the lead upon the occasion, and swore that it 

 was all over a good flower, and nothing but a good, 

 one, and that if ever flower deserved the name of 



