vi 
PREFACE. 
Poets have from the time of Chaucer to the 
present day adorned their verse with singing the 
praises and extolling the perfume of the breath 
of the flowers, which so delightfully blend in the 
zephyrs of the summer skies; and have spoken of 
them in languague almost divine,—terming them 
the “ Stars of the earth:”—indeed, poetry without 
them would lose its chief beauty, for it derives 
from them its richest charms. 
The associations connected with flowers are 
equally pleasing, for are there not some of our 
commonest plants which we have held in the high¬ 
est esteem, since the days of our infancy, when 
we rambled about the meadows and woods in 
careless innocence, that bear tou3 sweet memories 
of the happy days of childhood, and speak elo¬ 
quently to the heart? And in later years have 
not the rose’s blush, the tulip’s varied hues, and 
the lily’s grace, attracted our admiring gaze? 
Whilst the carnation, mignionette, and violet, with 
a variety of others, delighted us with their sweet 
perfume. 
Pages may be filled in speaking the praises of 
these lovely gems of the earth ; but what we have 
to consider in the present little work, is the senti¬ 
ments attached to them, which may not inappro¬ 
priately be called the “ Language of Angels.” 
