THE ARROW-LEAVED VIOLET. 



wild flower, has made it a favorite with the poets, ever since 

 Homer wrote of it, as he had seen it many a time in the far-off 

 vale, upon the " rushy banks " of the Meles. 



" Everywhere appeared 

 Meadows of softest verdure, purpled o'er 

 With violets. It was a scene to fill 

 A god from Heaven with wonder and delight." 



If there are no "violets blue," or other flowers in heaven, I 

 greatly wonder how the gods, or anybody else, can be long con- 

 tent there. Truly we may expect the Christian's heaven to be 

 radiant and fragrant with a wealth of flowers, for was not He 

 who is the " King of Heaven " passionately fond of flowers 

 when on earth he made his home, teaching from them many a 

 sweet lesson of trust and patience? And is He not called in 

 the " Elder Scriptures " " The Rose of Sharon " and " The Lily 

 of the Valleys " ? 



The Wild Violet of England and the continent of Europe, 

 which is the theme and admiration of so many poets, difl'ers 

 from our own by possessing a most exquisite fragrance, as our 

 English garden violets, Viola odorata, will abundantly demon- 

 strate. The comparison which the Duke makes in " Twelfth 

 Night," between soft music and the south wind laden with the 

 fragrance of violets, makes mention in a sufficiently poetical way 

 of this attribute of the flower. 



" O it came o'er my ear like the sweet south, 

 That breathes upon a bank of violets. 

 Stealing and giving odor." 



This — as well as its color, form, and modest bearing — has 

 charmed the appreciative senses and won the susceptible hearts 

 of all true poets. 



