190 
LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
false wealth, because gold, however abundant, 
cannot of itself render a person truly rich. It 
is related that Pythes, a rich Lydian, the owner 
of several gold-mines, neglected the cultivation 
of his lands, which naturally became so unpro¬ 
ductive as not to afford the necessaries of life. 
His wife, who proved herself possessed of as 
much good sense as wit, at a supper which 
Pythes had ordered her to prepare, caused all 
the dishes to he filled with representations of 
the different viands in gold. On the removal 
of the covers she said to the guests: “ I set 
before you such fare as we have; for we cannot 
reap what we do not sow.” This lesson made 
a due impression on the mind of Pythes, who 
acknowledged that Providence distributes its 
gifts like an affectionate mother, who has a 
love for all her offspring, however numerous. 
The French call this flower Tournesol as well 
as Soleil, from a vulgar error that the blossoms 
turn to the sun. The fact is, that the flowers 
branch out on all sides of the plant, and those 
which face the east at the opening of day, never 
turn to the west at the close of it. Many of 
our, poets, however, have adopted the popular 
