PROPAGATION OF ROSES 179 



of the magnificent bouquet destined to grace her fair 

 hand in the haunts of pleasure — the face of the coun- 

 try 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 healtiiful 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 deprived her of the active 

 enjoyments of this taste, many pleasures still remain j 

 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 superinten- 

 dence, or surrounded by some favourite plants, inhale 

 the fragrance which comes to her blended with sweet 

 recollections of the pleasing toils which insured 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 influence upon the 

 heart. In showering upon this earth such profusion 

 of blossoms of every odour. God has permitted us to 

 bask, as it were, in his visible smiles, and every 

 Christian will love him better for loving the glowing 

 proof of that goodness which disdains not to minister 



