eucaijYptus trees. 165 



The laurel crown of the hero was a people's high- 

 est reward of chivalrous and glorious deeds. 



The myrtle or orange - wreath for bridal curis re. 

 mains the proxidest gift to youthful hope. 



The little blooming weed, content in a parched and 

 dreary desert, revived the strength of many a sinking 

 wanderer (Mungo Park) ; the ever unalterable beauty 

 and harmony of moral structures preaches the truths 

 of eternal laws in the universe — a faith that gave 

 expression to Schiller's memorable words, as repeated 

 by that leading British statesman, Gladstone : '< It's 

 not all chance the world obeys." The innocent love- 

 liness of nature's flowers has often aroused anew the 

 shaken spirit of the philosopher, and to these and 

 other gifts of nature the American bard alludes wh^n 

 he speaks of the great zoologist, Agassiz, of whose 

 friendship I may well be proud : 



" And whenever the way seemed so long, 

 Or his heart began him to fail. 

 She would sing a still more wondrous song. 

 Or tell a more marvellous tale." 



And when it seems that all hopes of the weeping 

 mother are extinguished, or even the teachings of 

 religion may well-nigh forsake her, then the deep 

 meaning of some of our noblest poems, inspired by 

 nature, is understood, and faith in eternity once more 

 embraced. 



" And the mother gave in tear and pain 

 The flowers she most did love ; 

 She knew she would tind them all again 

 In the fields of light above." 

 " And with childlike credulous affection 

 We behold their tender bud expand— 

 Emblems of our own resurrection- 

 Emblems of the bright and better land." 



