Flowers. 237 



hurting the sensibility of the most tender feelings, as plants and 

 roots may be dissected without those disagreeable sensations 

 that follow the dissection of animals. Addison observes, that 

 it gives us a great insight into the contrivance and wisdom of 

 Providence, and suggests innumerable subjects for meditation. 



Flowers, 



BY MRS. BARBAUJ.D. 



Flowers to the fair ! to you these flowers I bring, 

 And strive to greet you with an early spring ; 

 Flowers, sweet and gay, and delicate like you, 

 Emblems of innocence and beauty too. 

 With flowers the Graces bind their yellow hair, 

 And flowery wreaths consenting lovers wear. 

 Flowers, the sole luxury which nature knew, 

 In Eden's pure and guiltless garden grew. 



Flowers in water should have a fresh supply every morning; 



the dead buds and decayed leaves should be taken away, and the 



sodden ends of the stalks should be cut off. All the leaves 



should be removed from that part of the stalk which is in the vase. 



When the flowers begin to hang the head and show a general 



aspect of languor, cut off the ends of the stalks with a sharp 



knife, and put them about two inches deep in warm water for 



a few minutes ; the water should not be actually scalding, but 



as warm as you can hold your hand in without pain ; the 



moisture will make its way into the vessels of the stems, and 



if they be taken from the warm and immediately replaced in 



fresh cold water, the flowers will revive and yet live for some 



days or hours longer, according to their kind. They should not 



be exposed to a hot sun. 



