14 
LANGUAGE OP FLOWERS. 
preaching, have turned away unimproved and j 
uninstructed, for :— 
“From the first bud, wbose verdant head 
The winter’s lingering tempest braves, 
To those, which ’mid the foliage dead. 
Shrink latest to their annual graves ; 
All are for use, for health, or pleasure given. 
All speak, in various ways, the bounteous hand of Heaven.” 
Charlotte Smith. 
I 
These are the sentiments of a pure mind and 
a lofty imagination, and the authoress of the 
following words may well claim sisterhood with : 
her from whom they emanated :—“ And who 
dare say that flowers do not speak a language, 
a clear and intelligible language ? Ask Words¬ 
worth, for to him they have spoken, until they 
excited ^ thoughts that lie too deep for tears 
ask Chaucer, for he held companionship with | 
them in the meadows ; ask any of the poets, | 
ancient or modern. Observe them, reader, love j 
them, linger over them, and ask your own 
heart if they do not speak affection, benevolence, 1 
and piety?” In confirmation of this, we also | 
quote sonie stanzas from another poet, whose | 
