Preface 



The papers published in this little volume 

 were written to solace the languor of the last 

 months of life, when a malady, which had 

 crept by slow approaches upon him, broke 

 down his strength, and arrested a professional 

 career which had begun but recently. 'They 

 betoken a mind gifted with quick, clear, and 

 delicate perception, independency of judgment, 

 and unsparing truthfulness. These were my 

 friend^s characteristic gifts. They are dimly 

 mirrored in these pages, but more clearly in 

 the memory of those who knew him well. To 

 them this little volume will be welcome, 

 because of him : to others, perchance, it may 

 be welcome for the worth it has, because it 

 tells of the beauty there is in God's fairest 

 frailest handiwork in flowers, and bears some 

 trace of the rarer amaranthine beauty of a 

 soul which wore " the white flower of a 

 blameless life.'" 



J. B. PATON. 



