INTRODUCTION. 
31 
By the first rule, a flower presented inclining 
to the right, expresses a thought; reversed, it 
is understood to convey the contrary of that 
sentiment. For example:—A rose-bud, with 
its thorns and leaves, is understood to say, “I 
fear, but I hope.” The same rose-bud re¬ 
versed, would signify that, “ You must neither 
fear nor hope.” You may convey your sen¬ 
timents very well by a single flower. As the 
second rule, take the rose-bud which has al¬ 
ready served us for an example, and strip it of 
its thorns, it tells you that “ There is every 
thing to hope.” Strip it of its leaves, it will 
express that “ There is every thing to fear.” 
The expression of nearly all flowers may 
be varied by changing their position. Thus, 
the marigold, for example ; placed upon the 
head, it signifies, “distress of mind;” upon 
the heart, “ the pains of love; ” upon the 
breast, “ ennui.” It is also necessary to 
know that the pronoun / is understood by in¬ 
clining the flower to the right, and the pro¬ 
noun thou by inclining it to the left. 
Such are the first principles of this myste¬ 
rious language. Love and friendship ought 
