306 SYMPATHETIC INFLUENCES. 



the breathing influence of a flowery atmosphere, and the ten- 

 dency of all things to produce their similitudes, there lies 

 beneath the natural fact a moral analogy of application to 

 ourselves. 



Let us quote to this effect from the Herbal of a quaint old 

 writer* on the influence of flowers: "Through their beauty 

 and variety of colour and exquisite forme, they do bring to a 

 liberal and gentle minde the remembrance of honestie, come- 

 linesse, and all kinds of virtues ; for it would be an unseemly 

 thing (as a certain wise man saith) for him that doth look upon 

 and handle faire and beautiful things, and who frequenteth 

 and is conversant in faire and beautiful places, to have his 

 mind not faire alsoe." 



However few may thus read their moral, and open their 

 hearts for ttte reception of its sweetness, we might almost say 

 that all but life-haters love flowers, and for the same reasons, 

 nearly all, though haters of Insects in general, love Butterflies. 

 We almost indeed seem to look upon them as animated 

 members of the floral kingdom, and regard them much in like 

 manner according to the progressive stages of our lives. In 

 childhood, we long for and pursue them ; in youth, we poetize 

 them; in manhood, scarcely heed them; in age, begin to 

 find in them, perhaps, alas! for the first time, sermons of 

 warning, or emblems of hope. The following with other 

 beautiful lines from an American poet, were written upon 



* Gerarde. 



