i Lo~: o3o6 
■ 1861 , 
nited 
rhiii AC i. 
l< I love' God, I love little children-, I 
love the flowers,” said a Persian, in vin¬ 
dication of his character as a true poet. 
Very few, in any time, possessing the 
“ vision and the faculty divinfe,” have failed 
to give such evidence of inspiration. In 
cottage and in palace, in every country, 
and in every age, flowers have been teach¬ 
ers and companions of the gentle and kind 
hearted; the truest langu^e of love, the 
liveliest symbols of all holy thoughts and 
feelings. 
This little volume contains some of 
the most beautiful po-»rhs which, from 
old Chaucer’s time, has been written in 
our language about flowers. Jt is itself a 
“ garden of poesies,” which will not be 
unwelcome to any who love either song 
or nature. 
3 
