July 17. 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
275 
died. Mary bad now to seek a borne, with thirteen pounds 
a year, the interest of the small legacy her cousin left. It 
was, indeed, for a lady, by birth and breeding, but absolute 
starvation ; nevertheless, the Lord stretched forth Ills hand 
and helped her. The daughter of an old and dear friend 
of Mary’s youth was enabled, at this very time, to remember 
her mother’s early friend, and she added twenty pounds 
a year to her slight means. Mary now felt affluent—yes, 
affluent; and never did a generous heart bestow assistance 
upon one more deeply grateful. She now set herself busily 
to work to manage her riches with close economy ; and she 
chose her home with two ladies of small means, who kept a 
school. With them she boarded and lodged whenever she 
was at liberty; but her friends loved her, and always kept her 
long; so that twenty pounds a year sufficed to support her 
for the short periods she was iu her little lodging, and made 
a trifling remuneration to her landladies. She was always 
charmed to be among her friends—and now she could enjoy 
it doubly, because she could say and feel that she came to 
see them, and not live upon their bounty. Dear reader, 
whatever your trials are, can you say you have a home ? that 
you are not a burden upon others ? If so, happy are ye ! 
Human nature is so “ desperately wicked,” that there are 
very few persons tit to be entrusted with power over any 
of their fellow-creatures. It is very, very seldom, that a de¬ 
pendant person is not made to feel their position very pain¬ 
fully, and no dependance is so trying as that of a poor 
relation, or a “ decayed gentlewoman,” or one receiving the 
bounty of others. An educated mind feels so sensitively 
any want of delicacy or consideration in treatment and 
manner, and yet cannot defend itself, or get away from Lire 
yoke of bondage ! 
In these cases, as in all others, refuge can only be found 
beneath the shadow of Almighty wings. If we have a simple 
and full dependance upon Him, it makes our other depend¬ 
ance comparatively light. If we can but carry our cross 
iustead of dragging it, that is, if we can but cheerfully and 
submissively meet the trials allotted to us, we should not 
feel them half so heavy and oppressive. But there is only 
one feeling that can enable us to carry our cross, and that is, 
seeing Who has laid it upon us; what Hand it is that “presseth 
us sore Whose wisdom and love metes out the portion that 
is best for us. Man, after all, is but the agent, the instru¬ 
ment, the servant who does his Lord's bidding—this it is 
that not only silences but satisfies the true believer—this it 
is that caused David to exclaim, when Shimei cursed him 
and cast stones upon him, “ Let him alone, and let him 
curse, for the Lord hath bidden him.” Nothing that hap¬ 
pens, however bitter, is the effect of chance or misfortune; all 
are the gracious purposes of a loving Father, who is training 
?Iis children for a glorious eternity, and giving to each a 
portion according to his need. 
Mary Waller’s story is not yet finished. In my next paper, 
I shall carry on the trials that were still seen good for her, 
and under which she is still abiding. May_they tend to both 
writer’s and reader’s spiritual profit. 
NOTES FROM PARIS. 
Paris has been inundated with flowers for the last two or 
three days, but yesterday in particular, owing to the anni¬ 
versary of St. Pierre, on which occasion all persons bearing 
the name of this Saint are presented with a bouquet, and 
receive the felicitations of their friends. As Pierre happens 
to be one of the commonest names in France, an immense 
number of flowers are everywhere in request for the 29tli 
of June. On that and the preceding day, the markets, it 
would seem, are not large enough, and in the morning, every 
available corner is occupied with growing and cut-flowers, 
for which eager customers are not long wanting. Every¬ 
where you see people carrying bouquets and flowers in pots. 
Porters with heavy loads of flowers are to be seen in every 
street, and even cabs, with several dozens on their tops, 
may be seen hurrying along from time to time. 
Happy is he whose name is Pierre! On one day, at 
least, out of the three-hundred-and-sixty five, he occupies 
the place of honour throughout all France. 
The weather, up to about the 20th, was remarkably wet 
and cold, but for the last eight or ten days it has been very 
dry and warm. To-day (June 29) the glass is at 33^ 
Beaumer. 
The markets are well supplied at present with Straw¬ 
berries and Cherries, very good in quality and very cheap. 
According to the dealers here, the best of the Cherries 
(very like the Biggarmu) is called the Cerise Anglaise. 
The Strawberry most common is a variety in the way of 
Keens’ Seedling. It may be bad at present so low as 3d. a 
pound. A small variety of Apricot, called Pie in vert, has 
been in the market some weeks. With this, may be men¬ 
tioned a pretty yellow rear, not much larger than a Cherry, 
, but having an agreeable taste. This is called Blanquette. 
; White Currants are now somewhat abundant, and may be 
had very good at about 3d. a pound. Green Gooseberries 
are to be seen occasionally in the principal markets. Of 
vegetables there is a great abundance of every kind. Green 
Peas are now very cheap ; Cauliflowers, also, which seem to 
get larger every day, are now within the reach of everybody. 
This delicious vegetable, as grown here, is commonly from 
eight to twelve inches in diameter, and I have seen some 
samples still larger, yet the heads are as firm and the 
flavour as good as in the smaller varieties. French Beans, 
Love Apples, and Artichokes, have been in season for some 
time. Green Almonds may be occasionally seen in'the 
shops. This fruit is used here in cookery, as a kind of 
entre met, in a green state. It is also prepared as a fruit 
ghue for the dessert, along with Apricots, Plums, Cherries, 
Figs, and other small kinds, including a small variety of 
Orange called Chiuois. The fruits glace being enveloped in 
candid sugar, are delicious as a dessert, and enter largely 
i into the consumption of the rich. The preparation of fruits 
in this way is a kind of business, which is often joined to 
that of confectioner. Several sorts of vegetables, also, as 
I Angelica, are preserved in sugar for the dessert. 
In the flower-markets and shops there is a rich and 
varied display at present; but Boses take the lead. Mag¬ 
nolias, Gardenias, Cacti, Pelargoniums, and Azaleas, come 
next. Oranges, Myrtles, and lvalmias, are just coming into 
season. Bouquets, it might be supposed, would be com¬ 
posed of a great many varieties, but this is not the case at 
present, for the best I have seen are made up chiefly of 
Boses, Pansies, Heliotropes, and Pinks. Two or three 
Boses occupy the centre; the first circle is composed of 
Pansies and Heliotropes alternating, then a Bose, half ex¬ 
panded, and raised a little, is placed at regular distances ; 
the second circle is of Mignonette and Pinks, the latter 
alternating in colour; the next circle is formed of Tansies, 
Orange-blossom, and Boses alternating; the Boses in every 
case few, half-open, and a little raised over the other flowers. 
The other circles are made up in nearly the same manner 
to any number desired ; and the Ferns at the outside are but 
slightly raised. 
The Orange-trees at the Imperial Gardens are now in full 
flower, and have a very agreeable effect. To give an idea of 
the number of these trees contained in the five Imperial 
Gardens in and near Paris, I may mention, that in the 
Tuileries alone there are not fewer than one hundred and 
seventy, nearly all about sixteen feet high, and having 
stems from ten to twelve inches in diameter. The Emperor 
derives a considerable revenue from the sale of the flowers, 
for the gathering of which sealed offers are received at the 
Hotel de Ville about the middle of June. 
As yet there has been nothing remarkable in the Horti¬ 
cultural Exhibition here, as regards the cultivation of plants. 
The principal house is occupied chiefly with Palms and 
other miscellaneous plants. A few Orchids have been sent 
by M. Pescatore, of Versailles, one or two of which are 
worth mention, as Cattlegu Mossed, Saccolabium guttalum, 
Vanda tricolor, and Odontoglussum Pescatorei. The plants 
in this collection, however, are in general small, and but 
poorly grown. Messrs. Perrier, amateurs, at Epernay, have 
a fine collection of miscellaneous plants, as Agathophyllum 
aromaticum, several species of Aralia, Coccoloba pulcsccns, 
remarkable for its broad, round leaves, which in one plant 
are fully three feet in diameter. At one side of this house 
is a recess arranged as a rockwork, which is appropriately 
studded with such plants as require a moist, shady place. 
The central part of this house is occupied with good 
examples of such plants as Lauras Cinamomum, Bopala 
