
PREFACE. 
Poets have from the time of Chaucer to the present 
day adorned their verse with singing the praises and 
extolling the perfume of the breath of the flowers, which 
so delightfully blend in the zephyrs of the summer 
skies; and have spoken of them in language almost 
divine,—terming them the ‘Stars of the earth ;??—in- 
deed, poetry without them would lose its chief beauty, 
for it derives from them its richest charms. 
The associations connected with flowers are equally 
pleasing, for are there not some of our commonest 
plants which we have held in the highest esteem, since 
the days of our infancy, when we rambled about the 
meadows and woods in careless innocence, that bear 
to us sweet memories of the happy days of childhood, 
and speak eloquently to the heart? And in later years 
have not the rose’s blush, the tulip’s varied hues, and 
the lily’s grace, attracted our admiring gaze? Whilst 
the carnation, mignionette, and violet, with a variety 
of others, delighted us with their sweet perfume. 
Pages may be filled in speaking the praises of these 
lovely gems of the earth; but what we have to consider 
in the present little work, is the sentiments attached to 
them, which may not inappropriately be called the 
‘* Language of Angels.” 
On searching the historic page, in all ages we find 
flowers were in requisition at festivals as well as at 
funerals, and among the Heathens, the Jews, and the 
Christians, they were used as emblems, In the East, 
in particular, we have abundant proof that the fecl- 
ings were expressed by them, and that there were flowcrs 


