14 WINTER GREENERIES AT HOME. 



ting, indeed, that the maiden should supersede the plant, 

 when the latter had accomplished its mission ; but how 

 much were both she and the Count indebted to that 

 " little thing." Is it any wonder that they carefully re- 

 moved it to the home of their freedom and love, after it 

 had so happily opened their way to such a home ? 



The plant may well be associated with the maiden or 

 the matron in every home, whether it be cottage or pal- 

 ace, a prison or a paradise. It would certainly help to 

 make the brightest abode more attractive, and the drear- 

 iest more tolerable. Even the man of sternest mould 

 could not remain wholly insensible to the charms of win- 

 ter verdure and bloom. And who is so competent a 

 guardian of such charms as the refined and gentle wo- 

 man ? Home, as her own peculiar realm, is worthy of 

 all possible adornment ; and here she may bring into her 

 service, if not the costly treasures of art, at least the 

 simple and inexpensive beauties of nature. Whatever 

 may have been Adam's part in Eden, the work of Eve, it 

 seems to me, must have been with the smaller plants and 

 flowers the "Picciolas" that helped to make her par- 

 adise. 



But you have already learned this lesson of the story, 

 and of Eden. Proof of it, not only in your own " little 

 greeneries," but in your very names. What a coinci- 

 dence ! Rose, Lilly, Daisy, Elora is there a Viola or 

 Camellia ? Your love of plants must be directly inher- 

 ited, if your names were given by your parents. Is there 

 some resemblance between you and the flowers.? Prob- 

 ably much more than between the two " Picciolas." At 

 any rate, you are lineal descendants of the first fair Flor- 

 ist, and may justly claim the inheritance of plants as 

 companions. 



