THAT BLOOM THE WHOLE SEASON. 175 



of floriculture brings with it, in every period of life, 

 a train of pure enjoyments. Whilst the city belle 

 blushes her delight at the sight of the magnificent 

 bouquet destined to grace her fair hand in the 

 haunts of pleasure the face of the country maiden 

 glows with still purer satisfaction as she presents 

 to a parent the rose which her own care has 

 brought to perfection. And the mother ! how 

 many lessons of wisdom can she impart to her 

 children whilst instilling into their young minds 

 the love of this healthful pursuit, and teaching 

 them to look up from the wonders spread around 

 them, to Him who gave the rose its hue. To the 

 time-stricken matron also, even after age has de- 

 prived her of the active enjoyments of this taste, 

 many pleasures still remain; under the shade of 

 some far spreading tree she can, from her rustic 

 seat, enjoy the sight of well planned arrangements, 

 executed under her own superintendence, or sur- 

 rounded by some favourite plants, inhale the fra- 

 grance which comes to her blended with sweet 

 recollections of the pleasing toils which ensured 

 their present luxuriance. But it is to those who 

 have known sorrow and affliction (and who has 

 not ?) that the love of flowers and gardening comes 

 like a boon from heaven, to shed its soothing in- 

 fluence upon the heart. In showering upon this 

 earth such profusion of blossoms of every odour, 



