FLOWERS. 49 



minute flowers lies; so that what 'is commonly re- 

 garded as one, consists sometimes of hundreds of 

 blossoms. Each of these being a complete flower, 

 with its corolla, pistil, stamens and seed-vessel, as 

 may readily be seen under the microscope. 



Many beautiful compound flowers ornament our 

 gardens during the summer and autumn. The stately 

 sun-flower, which grows to an immense size in the 

 woods and plains of Mexico, and excited the astonish- 

 ment of the Spanish conquerors; the bright mari- 

 golds, some of which bloom in almost every month 

 of the year; the dahlias and chrysanthemums, with 

 those dear friends the daisies, which welcome the 

 spring, and around whose quaint little name so many 

 associations cluster. 



Not worlds on worlds, in phalanx deep, 



Need we to prove a God is here; 

 The daisy, fresh from Nature's sleep, 

 Tells of his hand in lines as clear. 



For who but He who arched the skies 

 And pours the day-spring's living flood, 



Wondrous alike in alt he tries, 



Could raise the daisy's purple bud; 



Mould its green cup, its wiry stem, 



Its fringed border nicely spin, 

 And cut the gold-embossed gem 



That, set in silver, gleams within; 



And fling it, unrestrained and free, 

 O'er hill and dale, and desert sod, 



That man, where'er he walks, may see 

 In every step the hand of God?" 

 5 if 



