196 



THE HAWTHORN. 



tioii. or the merriest rustic dance. Let us hope 

 that the love of flowers, now so widely diffused, 

 is based on wiser and better motives. Tlie poet 

 who sang as follows, no doubt sang too truly of 

 the indifference of mankind to the religious im- 

 pressions which the wonders of the vegetable 

 world are so well calculated to convey. Let us 

 strive to render our hearts more susceptible. 



" Where does the wisdom and the power Divine 

 In a more bright and sweet reflection shine ? 

 Where do we finer strokes and colours see 

 Of the Creator's real poetry, 

 Than when we with attention look 

 Upon the third day's volume of the book ? 

 If we could open and intend our eye, 

 We all, like Moses, should esp}- 

 Ev'n in a bush the radiant Deity. 

 But we despise these his inferior ways 

 (Though no less full of miracle and praise) : 

 Upon the flowers of heaven we gaze ; 

 The stars of earth no wonder in us raise, 

 Though these perhaps do, more than they, 

 The life of mankind sway." Cowley. 



Stript, as we have seen, of legendary interest 

 as the Hawthorn no^^' is, and deprived of its 

 high privilege of crowning the Queen of ^lay, it 

 is, nevertheless, still a favourite vrith all. Not, 

 as I have before said, that it has great preten- 

 sions to elegance of form or picturesque beauty ; 

 but it possesses qualities which, I may almost 

 say, engage our affections. It is the tutelary 

 guardian of our fields, our orchards, and our gar- 

 dens ; and seems to thrive best, and loves to grow 

 near the rural habitations of men. When the 

 cottager sets about enclosing his bit of garden- ^ 

 ground, the Hawthorn is ready to cro^^Ti his ^ 

 lowly fence with its protecting and closely woven 



