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forms and colors of beauty, has always placed the means of its gratifi¬ 
cation within reach of the humblest. 
In the culture of flowers none should more properly lead the way than 
woman ; it seems indeed one of the duties of her sphere; she should re¬ 
member that while yet a sinless inmate of the first “ home ” on earth, 
and that spot a garden, she tempted man to his destruction ; and that in 
making her home now attractive “with the sweet incense of flowers”— 
and there are few who can resist such attractions—she will render 
the paths of virtue and truth more pleasant to her husband, and wil^ 
create a pleasant spot, wherein memory will ever linger in the hearts of 
her children. 
Nothing more beautifully indicates the purifying influence of a love for 
flowers, than the appreciation which innocent children always bestow 
upon them ; and our Saviour, while he blessed little children, did not 
fail to bid us heed their favorites “the lilies of the field.” It would in¬ 
deed be well for those who toil and labor in the world’s dusty warfare, 
to follow the example of these “little ones” and find more of their hap¬ 
piness. 
Where still the love of childhood lies 
Where its first treasures lay, 
Among the greenwood’s countless leaves, 
And lovely dowers of May. 
In the intervals of labor and business, nothing can be more invigorat¬ 
ing and cheering than the pleasures of a garden. Its flowers and fruits 
naturally lead our minds to that infinite Creator who has given us so 
much to enjoy, even in this world—such reflections must tend to nought 
but good in the heart of man ; they would insensibly lead him, perhaps, 
to a recognit on of the particular care of Providence, in His most humble 
creations, ; nd thus he could but become an humbler and a better man— 
a, more genial friend, and a more tender p irent. 
Wherever we see a man who loves to plant and foster flowers, we in¬ 
stinctively commend him in our hearts as a man of true refinement; and 
when we are so unfortunate as to meet with a woman who does not de¬ 
light in them, we have good reason to suspect a lack of all that consti¬ 
tutes the true beauty of the feminine character. Let our wives and 
daughters, then, lead the way, and in a path so pleasant our husband* 
