PP OE VP ng 
ipa © — gages hee e 
ac "ate, 
allusion to the specific flower in British poets, or by its botanical, or its popular name, or by some property 
uliar to it, such as its hue, form, odor, place and manner of growth, sensibility, medicinal virtue, or some 
other circumstance connected with its history or character. It would be idle to swell this preface, and to seek to 
give consequence to a trifle so light and airy as this, by indicating, in every instance, the reasons which led to 
the selection of the emblems: these will present aripstves readily to the mind of the reader. A few, and but 
few of them have been arbitrarily assumed, and this only from the necessity of giving sient range and variety 
to this symbolic language. If this be an objection, it ‘action with ae force to spoken uage. For, although 
mAe 
such of our words as are intended to convey the idea of sounds, seem to be manifest “het of these sounds, 
ense,’’ a8 they have been happily called, yet, the te greater part of the words which aera 
and must have been necessarily and bape assumed, in the fi 
p y comm nsent as pris 
sive of those ideas. The adoption once made, whether in oral or emble ta si the tama of these 
and i 
conventional signs becomes as easy and accurate, and the use as said erent 
relation between the signs and the ideas brie they represent; all that is sian being, ie the purpose of the 
sign be understood in the same way by all 
The quotations are designed as poetic ‘sitll of the several emblems to which they are acagialie applied. 
qu 
ginal contributions for this little work, and it is believed that they will be found 
worthy of this association with “establidhed poets. In some instances answers are furnished; these may be tacitly 
made by returning a part of the same flower which has been presented. And where there are no answers pre- 
pared, a similar return of a part of the flower will signify, that the sentiments expressed are reciprocate 
first rude sketch of this little divertissement having been shown to a few young friends 
last year, Recs its way to the press in sion 
ess and beauty of type and 5S 
merely to explain to those who may possess ‘ses aes a identity of the w 
has amused herself in compiling it, from any original purpose of  cblieatibicl 
» Copies 1 were asked 
Since the collection has been 
manuscript copies, that it has been found expedient to 
or of transcription. This request for copies, and the circum- 
met of its having been thought worthy of publication in Boston, while the little work was as yet an —— 
bud, induce the belief that the more expanded and finished form which it has now taken, will oa it no 
unacceptable to those who are themselves in the spring-time of life, the season of flowers and sentim 
Bs re few little presents more pleasing to a Lady, than a bouguet of flowers; and, if the Sie te disposed 
to give them greater Beart it will be easy, with this manual before him, to alka his selection in such a way 
as to stamp intelligence and expression on a simple posy. 
This mode of i rstiunication Bi be carried even beyond the proper season of flowers, by the aid of an 
herbarium, in which flowers are preserved by simple pressure between the leaves of an album. Such an herbarium 
would be an ornament to a parlor ‘aie and would, moreover, encourage and facilitate the study of botany: in 
promotion of which latter object, a botanical glossary has to the work, 
The Lady who has given her leisure hours to this little play of fancy, has not the vanity to attach any serious 
consequence to it. The dagatelle, she trusts, is too light to attract the grave censure of the critic by apne 
It has been an innocent recreation to herself; and it is with no higher expectation Oas of affording the 
amusement to others, that it is now given to the press 
Batrmore, 1829. 
ae Vr Orr KN. 
’, 
hens 
X 
ee, 
