-I
 
 -

 
 THE 
 
 LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 BY REV. N. HERVEY. 
 
 ! let us live so that flower by flower, 
 Shutting in turn, may leave 
 
 A lingerer still for the sunset hour, 
 A charm for the shaded eve. 
 
 Mas. HEMANS. 
 
 THIRD EDITION. 
 
 SALEM: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY D. B. BROOKS AND BROTHER. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 JOHN P. JEWETT AND COMPANY. 
 1856.
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, In the year 1849, by 
 
 D. BRAINERD BROOKS, 
 In the Cleric'* Office of the District Court of Massachusetts 
 
 Stereotyped by 
 HOB ART & BOBBINS ; 
 
 New England Type and Stereotype Foundery, 
 BOSTON.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THE design of the writer, in this little vol- 
 ume, is to lead the young into the works of 
 nature, and from thence up to God. In explain- 
 ing the various flowers, we have aimed to make 
 them emblems of Christian virtues. The lily, 
 which stands prominent among flowers, is made 
 an emblem of the Saviour, in whom are com- 
 bined all the Christian graces, and recommended 
 to the attention of youth. We have made the 
 fading flower emblematic of the early death 
 of children. The book is adapted to families, 
 and may, with profit to Sabbath-school children, 
 be placed in their libraries. We affectionately 
 dedicate the volume to parents and children, 
 1* 
 
 2052925
 
 BEUOLD the lilies of the field, 
 In thousand colors drest ; 
 
 They toil not, neither do they spin, 
 Yet God the flowers hath blest. 
 
 Then toil not for the things of earth, 
 But seek the Lord to please ; 
 
 For Solomon, in all his pride, 
 Was not arrayed like these.
 
 THE 
 
 LILY AMONG FLOWERS, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 MAY-DAY had passed away, and the 
 pleasant month of June had almost 
 opened upon us, when a party of girls 
 and boys came running from their school- 
 room, and passed directly by my door, 
 when my curiosity led me to ask, "Where 
 are you going ? " " We are going into 
 the garden," says one of them, " to 
 gather flowers." "0, no," says one of 
 the boys, " not in the garden, but out in 
 the fields." " Come," said James, "go 
 with us." I was disposed to join this
 
 10 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 pleasant group of young friends, and 
 readily complied with their request, with 
 the hope that we all might derive instruc- 
 tion from the flowers which adorn our 
 valleys and fields, and from the various 
 scenes in nature. 
 
 We had a long walk to take, before 
 coming to the field where James thought 
 the flowers were plenty. But there was 
 enough around us to make our walk a 
 pleasant one. On either side of the road 
 were the farmers busily tilling the soil, 
 the cattle and the sheep grazing upon the 
 distant hrlls ; the music of the bright 
 spring birds greeted us upon the wings 
 of the passing breeze, and the verdant 
 landscapes, the green meadows, and the 
 running brooks, all conspired to fill our 
 hearts with joy and gratitude to the 
 Author of all good. 
 
 " There are many persons," said Mary, 
 "who take no interest in flowers, and 
 seem to have no taste for the works of
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 11 
 
 nature." That is true. But I have met 
 with a great many people who really love 
 them, who look upon whatever is beau- 
 tiful in the scenery of earth with the 
 greatest admiration. "Yes," said Anna, 
 " and I am one of them. I do love to 
 ramble in the forest, and among the hills. 
 I think I could live in a garden." 
 
 I have noticed that old people are very 
 fond of flowers and plants. I recollect, 
 when I was a lad, of seeing an old farm- 
 house which was about to be removed, in 
 order to give place for a new and elegant 
 mansion. The old house was occupied 
 by persons who were born in it ; and 
 around it were all kinds of trees, many 
 of them were old, and withering away. 
 In front of the house was a large garden, 
 containing a variety of bushes, and 
 directly in its centre was a bed of flow- 
 ers. When the old house was removed, 
 the flowers were all carefully taken up 
 by an aged lady who lived there, and
 
 12 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 who transplanted them in another place, 
 lest, in the business of rebuilding, some 
 rude hand might pluck a tender bud, or 
 a careless foot crush a choice shoot. 
 These flowers and plants had been ten- 
 derly cultured by this aged lady. Soon 
 after the new house was completed, she 
 was taken sick, and confined to her room 
 for several months. She was fond of her 
 children, and they often went to see her ; 
 and, by her request, they would go out 
 into the" garden, and gather some of her 
 favorite flowers, and carry them to her, in 
 the room where she was confined until she 
 died. When she was laid in the coffin, 
 her grandchildren gathered a large num- 
 ber of the choicest flowers, wove them 
 into a delicate wreath, and laid it on the 
 coffin-lid ; and when she was buried, 
 they adorned her grave with a variety of 
 her choice flowers and plants, placing the 
 white lily at the head. 
 
 Now, young people have much to say
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 13 
 
 about flowers, and often gather them as 
 mementoes for their friends, and for fes- 
 tival occasions ; but they are not so much 
 interested in cultivating them, and in 
 watching their growth, as older persons. 
 When you ride out in the country, you 
 will see the humble farm-house, and in 
 the front yard of the lonely cottage a 
 great variety of flowers ; and if you see 
 among them the marigold, the china- 
 aster, and the damask rose, you may be 
 certain old people live there. These are 
 called old-fashioned flowers, and are the 
 favorites of grandmothers. 
 
 Young people are generally too busy 
 with active life to find, leisure for trim- 
 ming and cultivating a flower-garden. 
 
 "That is true," said Sarah; "there 
 are so many weeds to pull up, and they 
 have to be watered so often. It re- 
 quires some patience, and much time, 
 also. I think flowers are very beautiful, 
 arid I love to see them, and go out in the
 
 14 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 fields and gather them ; but, I must con- 
 fess, I do not like the care of them." 
 Does your mother like flowers, Sarah ? 
 
 " 0, yes, she is very fond of them. 
 We have some in the house, and mother 
 takes about all the care of them. She 
 puts them in the sun, and then in the 
 shade ; and when it rains, she calls us to 
 put them out doors."
 
 THE LILT AMONG FLOWERS. 15 
 
 All this is necessary for the growth 
 and beauty of plants. They require light 
 and shade, heat and moisture. And I 
 suppose there are some weeds among 
 them. 
 
 "Yes, but not so many as grow among 
 the flowers in the garden. And mother 
 says, if she did not pull up the weeds, 
 the flowers would not grow, nor look so 
 beautiful." 
 
 True, my child. The weeds are very 
 injurious to plants. You remember what 
 the Saviour says, in the parable of the 
 sower, about the seed which fell among 
 thorns ; and the thorns grew with the 
 grain, crowded it, and choked the seed. 
 Weeds sometimes grow where we least 
 suspect them ; and hence we see the 
 importance of taking care of the flow- 
 ers and plants. And I think it well to 
 have them in the house and in the gar- 
 den, for children to cultivate. 
 
 "Why so?" said little Mary, who 
 2
 
 16 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 listened to our conversation, and who 
 would know my reason. 
 
 Because, in taking care of them, and 
 seeing them gradually develop their beau- 
 ties, it suggests to us the importance of 
 taking care of ourselves. If we do not 
 cultivate our own hearts, and control our 
 evil passions, by forming Christian prin- 
 ciples, which we may derive from the 
 example and teachings of the Saviour, 
 our hearts will become as the soil where 
 the weeds grow and choke the plants. 
 - 'One of the little boys, who joined us 
 in our walk, looked up, with his bright 
 eyes and smiling face, and exclaimed, 
 with such childlike confidence that no 
 one could doubt what he said, " 0, 
 mother takes care of me !" 
 
 Yes, my little boy ; parents have to 
 give much attention to their children. 
 And it is a blessing to have such parents 
 as will watch over such little plants as 
 you are, and see that the weeds do not
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 17 
 
 grow in your hearts. It will always give 
 them pleasure to see you profit by their 
 care and attention, to know that you 
 cease to do evil, and learn to do well. I 
 will repeat a few lines which are found 
 among the poetical fragments of Richard 
 Baxter, and which show how much he 
 felt indebted to his parents for their 
 attention to him when a boy. 
 
 " My parents here thy skilful hand did plant, 
 Free from the snares of riches and of want ; 
 Their tender care was used for me alone, 
 Because thy providence gave to them but one ; 
 Their early precepts so possessed my heart, 
 That, taking root, they did not thence depart ; 
 Thy wisdom so contrived my education 
 As might expose me to the least temptation. 
 Much of that guilt thy mercy did prevent 
 In which my spring-time I should else have spent" 
 
 A great many persons have felt the 
 importance of a mother's care, in after 
 years, when they have left their pleasant 
 homes, and gone into the business of the
 
 18 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 world. They then see what they did 
 not think was of so much importance, 
 when they were little children. 
 
 " I remember," said Sarah, " of hear- 
 ing our minister tell something about Mr. 
 Cowper, when he was a boy." 
 
 Well, let me see how much you can 
 remember of what he said ; for Mr. Cow- 
 per was an excellent man, as well as a 
 distinguished poet ; and his experience 
 very happily illustrates the influence of a 
 mother's care. 
 
 " He said that when he was a little 
 boy his mother used to wrap him up in a 
 scarlet mantle, and send him away to 
 school ; and would teach him herself, and 
 would go into his chamber, after he went 
 to bed, every night, to see if he was safe 
 and warm. And that she taught him 
 many good lessons." 
 
 Yes, Sarah, and her manners and 
 treatment to him made impressions on 
 his mind which all the dark scenes and
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 19 
 
 mental depressions of his life never effaced 
 from his memory. He recalls, in the 
 later years of his life, those precious days 
 of his childhood, in a poem, which he 
 composed when over fifty years of age. 
 And you may have occasion to remember 
 
 the kind attention and good instructions 
 of your parents, should you outlive them, 
 when they are laid in the grave. And 
 
 2*
 
 20 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 if you do not give heed to their instruc- 
 tions now, it will cause you painful reflec- 
 tions then. 
 
 "Will you tell us," said James, "what 
 those lines are, in Mr. Cowper's poem?" 
 
 I will try and repeat them. 
 
 " Tis now become a history little known, 
 That once we called the pastoral house our own. 
 Short-lived possession ! but the record fair 
 That memory keeps, of all thy kindness there, 
 Still outlives many a storm that has effaced 
 A thousand other themes, less deeply traced. 
 Thy nightly visits to my chamber made, 
 That thou might'st know me safe and warmly kid , 
 Thy morning bounties, ere I left my home, 
 The biscuit or confectionary plum; 
 The fragrant waters on my cheek bestowed 
 By thy own hand, till fresh they shone and glowed; 
 All this, and, more endearing still than all, 
 Thy constant ilow of love, that knew no fall ; 
 All this, still legible in memory's page, 
 And still to be so, till my latest age, 
 Adds joy to duty, makes me glad to pay 
 Such honors to thee as my numbers may ; 
 Perhaps a frail memorial, but sincere, 
 Not scorned in heaven, though little noticed here."
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 21 
 
 Mr. Cowper's mother took good care 
 of him, when a little boy ; and you can- 
 not be too thankful, my children, for your 
 good mothers. Children are in danger 
 of forgetting the most important lessons 
 which they receive in their early days. 
 But it was not so with Mr. Cowper. One 
 incident in his life will prove it. On 
 receiving a copy of his mother's likeness 
 from his cousin, Mrs. Bodham, at the 
 age of fifty- eight, he sent a letter of 
 thanks to the donor, in which he says, 
 " I placed it where it is the last object 
 that I see at night, and, of oourse, the 
 first on which I open my eyes in the 
 morning. The portrait I had rather pos- 
 sess than the richest jewel in the British 
 crown, for I loved her with an affection 
 that her death, fifty-two years ago, has 
 not in the least abated. I remember, 
 too, a multitude of the maternal tender- 
 nesses which I received from her, and
 
 22 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 which endeared her memory to me beyond 
 expression." 
 
 It is also true that good parents cher- 
 ish a very warm attachment towards their 
 children, and it always affords them the 
 greatest happiness to see their children 
 walking in wisdom's ways, kind, duti- 
 ful, and obedient. 
 
 "0, yes," said Charlotte; "mother 
 is always doing something for us, and 
 often talks to us about being good chil- 
 dren. She was talking to us the other 
 day, and I remember she said, that, if 
 she was taken away from us, she wanted 
 us to be able to say that she endeavored 
 to give us a right education." 
 
 And, Charlotte, if you should die 
 before your parents, would it not give 
 you pleasure to be able to say that you 
 were always obedient to their advice ? 
 
 "0, yes, I think it would give me 
 pain, if I should be the cause of any un- 
 happiness to my parents."
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 23 
 
 Parents derive much consolation, in the 
 loss of their children, to know that, while 
 they were living, they improved under 
 their moral and religious instruction. 
 Parents feel more tenderly the loss of 
 good children. Yet they have one thought 
 to console them, the thought that such 
 children are safe in heaven. 
 
 You know Mrs. Gr. has buried a num- 
 ber of children. I remember visiting the 
 family soon afterwards. As I entered 
 the room, she was watering some flowers 
 that were drooping, and arranging them 
 in one part of the room, so that they 
 might receive the requisite light and 
 shade. She had evidently been weep- 
 ing. It was just three weeks since she 
 had laid the last " olive-plant" of her 
 own family in the silent tomb. She had 
 taken much care of her children, and 
 when they were sick she was with them 
 most of the time, and watched over them 
 both night and day, with the hope that
 
 24 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 God would spare them to her yet longer. 
 But, with all her care and attention^ 
 they were taken away. Yes, her little 
 plants were removed to a more congenial 
 soil, where they will bloom in fresh 
 beauty and unfading virtue. Our con- 
 versation turned upon the flowers, when 
 I remarked, " They require some atten- 
 tion ;" to which she replied, "Yes, and 
 these flowers often remind me of my dear 
 children ; and I love to cultivate them, 
 because they bring to my memory those 
 days in which I took so much pleasure 
 in cultivating their minds, and in teach- 
 ing them to be good children." 
 
 "How true it is," said Charlotte, as 
 she plucked a flower that was just begin- 
 ning to droop, "how true it is that flow- 
 ers fade, and their leaves fall!" 
 
 A true emblem, Charlotte, of departed 
 joys and blighted hopes. They may be 
 viewed as very appropriate emblems of 
 youth and beauty in their new-flushed
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 25 
 
 bloom, their deep verdure, and copious 
 fragrance. How many fair children, like 
 these spring flowers, just begin to live, 
 and then fade and die ! I think we 
 should learn a lesson from these transient 
 decorations of earth, to improve the 
 spring-time of life. By so doing, we 
 shall be prepared for an early grave or a 
 good old age. 
 
 It is time for us to return. See, the 
 sun has almost set! " I should like to 
 come out here in the morning," said 
 Sarah. " It will be beautiful," said 
 Charlotte, " to see the sun rise from this 
 hill." All expressed the same desire. 
 And, should time permit, we will go 
 down in the valley, where we may find 
 some new flowers. 
 
 " I will be up 'bright and early,'" 
 said little James, as he ran down the 
 hill. Yes, we must start early, children, 
 and let us all resolve, "early to bed, and 
 early to rise." The time is fixed,
 
 26 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 before sunrise. Awake with the morn- 
 ing lark, and we shall hear the birds sing, 
 and breathe the healthy air. Remem- 
 ber the time, children. 
 
 " Best wishes attend you, 
 
 Good children and fair ; 
 Kind angels defend you, 
 And keep you with care." 
 
 Away they started to their respective 
 homes, leaving me alone to my own 
 reflections. Surely there, is something 
 interesting in children, as well as in 
 flowers. They exhibit truly a love for 
 the works of nature. To excite and cul- 
 tivate this disposition in their minds is 
 certainly an important part of the pa- 
 rental office. God has made everything 
 beautiful in its place and season, and 
 given to each part of his works its spe- 
 cific use. Changes are perpetually tak- 
 ing place, throughout all his handiwork, 
 and yet complete order and regularity
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 27 
 
 pervade the whole. There is sympathy, 
 harmony and proportion, everywhere vis- 
 ible throughout the universe of God, and 
 even in the smallest objects are seen his 
 matchless wisdom and goodness. Here 
 children may learn valuable instruction, 
 by directing their attention to the won- 
 derful productions of nature. The laws 
 by which heavenly bodies are governed, 
 the peculiar structure of the globe, the 
 germination of the seed, the vegetation 
 of the plants, the industry of the ant, the 
 skill and labor of the bee, the instinct 
 and affection of birds, in building their 
 nests and in taking care of their young, 
 all have a powerful influence upon the 
 youthful mind. 
 
 Parents should often walk with their 
 children, and admire with them the works 
 of their Creator, and teach them to be 
 familiar with the operations of nature, 
 and also teach them that they derive their 
 highest enjoyment from a filial confidence
 
 28 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 in him who covers the earth with beauty, 
 and fills the air with fragrance. Young 
 minds are always open to impressions 
 from " things in heaven, or things on 
 earth, or things under the earth ;" and as 
 the seasons roll on, unfolding their innu- 
 merable blessings, the productions of the 
 Almighty hand are ever imparting in- 
 struction to the reflecting mind, and cre- 
 ating new delight. 
 
 "Still all are under one. One Spirit, Him 
 Who rules universal nature. Not a flower 
 But shows some touch, in freckle, streak, or stain, 
 Of his unrivalled pencil. 
 
 * * * # * 
 
 His presence, who made all so fair, perceived, 
 Makes all still fairer. As with him no scene 
 Is dreary, so with him all seasons please."
 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE morning light just began to peep 
 into my chamber, when the voices of 
 children without reminded me of the 
 time fixed for an early ramble. In a 
 few minutes we were all together, and 
 on our way to the hills and valleys. Our 
 number had increased. The village chil- 
 dren had heard of the proposal for a 
 morning walk, and several of them joined 
 our party, to the satisfaction of all. 
 
 It was a fine morning, and we were in 
 season to see all nature waking up. The 
 deep blue sky was lighted up with the 
 dawn of day ; the trees waved in the 
 gentle breeze, and the little birds saluted 
 us with their morning songs. I could 
 not but sympathize with the sentiment 
 of an English author : " How charming 
 to rove abroad at this sweet hour of
 
 30 THE LILT AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 prime, to enjoy the calm of nature, to 
 tread the dewy lawns, and taste the 
 unrivalled freshness of the air. 
 
 1 Sweet is the breath of morn ; her rising sweet 
 With charm of earliest birds.' " 
 
 When we arise in the morning, chil- 
 dren, and look out upon the beauties of 
 nature, and snuff the mellow air, we 
 should not forget to look upward. There 
 is one who draws around us the curtain 
 of darkness, so that we may enjoy that 
 quiet repose which is necessary to the 
 health of both the body and mind, and 
 who also maketh the outgoings of the 
 evening and the morning to rejoice. To 
 him we should render thanks for his kind 
 protection, and for his wise division of 
 time into day and night. When a boy, I 
 learned a hymn, which I often repeated. 
 Perhaps you may know it. Little Anna 
 repeated the whole of it. The first verse 
 is this:
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 31 
 
 " Lord, in the morning thou shalt hear 
 
 My voice ascending high. 
 
 To thee will I direct my prayer, 
 
 To thee lift up mine eye." 
 
 Now, children, time with us is short. 
 We must make the most of it, this morn- 
 ing. Flowers and plants appear to us 
 different from what they did last even- 
 ing. This morning they are all covered 
 with little drops of dew ; and, as soon 
 as the sun shines on them, they will 
 sparkle like so many liquid crystals. 
 
 " 0, come up here," said James, 
 standing on the top of a hill. We hast- 
 ened to the call, and were presented with 
 a beautiful scene. A valley spread be- 
 fore us, toward the east. In the dis- 
 tance, between the hills which skirted it 
 on either side, appeared the sun, shed- 
 ding his rays upon the dewy meadow. 
 It appeared as though it were covered 
 with a silver mantle. 
 
 " The dew will soon be gone," said 
 3*
 
 32 THE LILT AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 little Anna. Yes, my child. But the 
 dew is a benefit to vegetation. While 
 the sun is up, during the day, plants and 
 flowers are constantly drying ; and if 
 there were no moisture imparted to them 
 during the night, they would not live so 
 long as they do. 
 
 "I see," said Anna, "why mother 
 waters her flowers." 
 
 The dew answers all the purposes of 
 the watering-pot. If there were no 
 moisture to the earth, plants would not 
 grow, gardens would not bloom, trees 
 would not put forth their tender leaves, 
 nor appear in their beautiful foliage. The 
 meadows would not look so green, nor 
 the earth yield us its wholesome food. 
 And -if the earth had all the moisture it 
 now has, and were deprived of heat and 
 light, the result would be the same. 
 No longer would the fig-tree blossom, 
 nor fruit be in the vine ; the labor of the 
 olive would fail, and the fields could yield
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 33 
 
 no meat. The flocks must be cut off 
 from the folds, and there would be no 
 herd in the stalls. 
 
 The sun is a great blessing to the vege- 
 table and animal world, as well as to our- 
 selves. The thousands of insects which 
 are now awake, and the birds which are 
 singing their morning songs, and the 
 sheep which feed on the hills, and the 
 cattle which graze in the pasture, would 
 mourn for the light and heat of the sun. 
 
 It is through this means, together with 
 the rain and dew, which gently distils on
 
 84 THE LILT AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 the grass, that we are supplied with the 
 blessings of vegetation, and which causes 
 the farmer to rejoice, as he gathers in his 
 harvest. 
 
 There are two titles by which the 
 Saviour is called in the Scriptures. Can 
 you tell me, Charlotte, what they are ? 
 " There are a number of titles applied 
 to him ; but I suppose you refer to those 
 where he is figuratively called ' The Sun 
 of Righteousness,' and ' The Day Spring 
 from on high.' " 
 
 Yes, you have answered correctly. 
 And you all perceive the beauty of the 
 similitude. As the sun rises and shines 
 on every hill and vale, and in every 
 direction, illuminating the whole earth, 
 so the Saviour is called " The Light of 
 men." And if you receive his teach- 
 ings, and obey them, he will be your 
 Light and Sun. 
 
 There is another Scripture title by 
 which he is called ; perhaps you will be
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 35 
 
 able to tell me, when I say I do not mean 
 the Rose of Sharon. " 0, yes," said 
 Sarah ; " it is the Lily of the Valley.' " 
 
 That is right ; there are lilies among 
 flowers. Can you tell me how many 
 kinds of lilies there are ?. 
 
 "There is the tiger lily, the water lily, 
 the white lily, and the lily of the valley." 
 
 The latter is the kind, I suppose, the 
 Saviour referred to, when he said, " Con- 
 sider the lilies of the field." You are 
 aware, children, how much the Saviour 
 conversed with the works of nature while 
 he was on earth, and how plain he made 
 his teachings, by familiar illustrations, 
 from the scenes around him. He taught 
 many truths by parables, and " the com- 
 mon people heard him gladly." Noth- 
 ing in the works of nature escaped his 
 notice, from the shining sun and falling 
 rain, to the lilies of the field and the 
 I birds of the air. He appears familiar 
 with all the operations of husbandry. To
 
 36 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 him the lily, in its native bed, possessed 
 a beauty, in its outward adorning, far 
 superior to all the glory of Solomon, 
 when arrayed in his kingly apparel* 
 
 There were, undoubtedly, other flow- 
 ers of the field which the Saviour con- 
 sidered equally worthy of his notice. But 
 he selected the lily as a specimen of the 
 care of our heavenly Father, and to guard 
 the minds of his disciples against too 
 much anxiety in their temporal affairs. 
 "See, it toils not;" and yet it grows, 
 expanding its leaves, and filling the air 
 with its sweetest fragrance. 
 
 " I think the lily must be an emblem 
 of many things," said Charlotte. "There 
 is a book called the Language of Flowers, 
 in which every flower is made to repre- 
 sent some moral sentiment." 
 
 " But flowers do not speak," said lit- 
 tie Anna. 
 
 Yes, my child, flowers have voices, 
 which silently speak to us ; and I think
 
 THE LILT AMONG FLOWERS. 37 
 
 we shall find the lily speaks a great many 
 things. I will explain to you, directly. 
 As you referred, Charlotte, to the Lan- 
 guage of Flowers, will you tell us the 
 meaning of the lily ? 
 
 " Yes. The white lily signifies purity 
 and sweetness. The lily of the valley, 
 delicate simplicity ; and the water lily, 
 eloquence. A lady has written a few lines 
 on the latter, which I remember. 
 
 ' It welleth up from brimming founts, 
 Deep hidden in the soul ;
 
 38 THE LILY AMOUG FLOWERS. 
 
 And, with a strong, resistless power, 
 Its chainless waters roll. 
 
 ' It gushes out in words of fire, 
 It scorches with its breath ; 
 And, as the heart is pure or dark, 
 Its words are life or death." " 
 
 The lily of the valley is a beautiful 
 flower, but of short duration. It will 
 soon fade and wither in the light and 
 heat, when taken from its native soil. 
 It may well be called delicate simplicity. 
 Its delicate whiteness excels the finest 
 painting of the most skilful artist. 
 
 We may all learn lessons from the 
 Saviour's illustration of God's goodness 
 and care, by the lilies of the field. He 
 causes them to grow, and clothes them 
 with an appropriate dress ; wrapping 
 around them an outer garment, that they 
 may be guarded against rude blasts and 
 chilling winds. And if he clothe the lily 
 in its beautiful dress, and feed the birds 
 which sing in the air, will he not clothe
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 39 
 
 us ? The lily has life, but it is not im- 
 bued with immortality. It fades and 
 dies, and mingles with the earth. But 
 " man is the noblest work of God." And 
 if he take such tender care of the simple 
 flowers, which spring up and bloom for a 
 short time only, certainly he will provide 
 for that which is of more value. " Ho 
 carcth for you ;" he knows all your wants. 
 "lie openeth his hand wide unto tho 
 poor and needy," and provideth for every 
 living thing which he hath made. IIo 
 dispenses our blessings, not accidentally, 
 but for our good. 
 
 " I see," said Sarah, " what is meant 
 by the illustration. God takes care of 
 the birds, and clothes the lilies with their 
 beautiful colors ; but he has not put his 
 Spirit in them. They soon perish, and 
 mingle with the dust again. And since 
 he adorns the lily, and feeds the birds, 
 and clothes the grass of the field, he will 
 4
 
 40 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 certainly provide for us, and give us food 
 for our comfort." 
 
 Yes, that is the lesson he would have 
 us remember. 
 
 " And do you not think," inquired 
 Charlotte, " that the lily is an emblem 
 of the Saviour ? ' ' 
 
 It is, certainly, a faint image of his 
 character ; but it will help our concep- 
 tions of his meek, lovely, and pure spirit; 
 and, so far as we possess the same mind 
 which was in him, and cultivate in our 
 hearts and lives the same graces which 
 were developed in Christ, shall we be 
 conformed to his image. There is a pas- 
 sage in Solomon's Songs which expresses 
 the situation of the Christian in this 
 world, and shows how he values them : 
 "As the lily among thorns, so is my love 
 among the daughters." 
 
 " I never knew what that meant, be- 
 fore," said Sarah; -'and I wish you 
 would explain the other part, where it
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 41 
 
 speaks of going down into the garden to 
 gather lilies." 
 
 I shall refer you to it another time, aa 
 I shall want to occupy more time than 
 we shall have this morning, in telling you 
 about some families with whom I am 
 acquainted, who have lost some lilies, 
 which were planted in their gardens. 
 
 What we have said respecting the lily, 
 as an emblem of God's care and good- 
 ness, may also be said of all his works. 
 They all praise him ; and are distin- 
 guished from the works of art in their 
 beauty and perfection. By the aid of 
 the microscope, you will see very dis- 
 tinctly all the proportions of a single 
 flower. An artificial flower looks very 
 well at a distance ; but when you bring 
 it near the eye, and compare it with one 
 of these field flowers, you will immedi- 
 ately perceive the difference. It lacks 
 the life of the opening bud and blossom, 
 the freshness, color, and fragrance, of
 
 42 THE LILV AMON0 FLOWERS. 
 
 a natural one. And when you look at 
 the former, you sec displayed the inge- 
 nuity of man, and regard it as his work ; 
 but when you pluck the flowers which 
 adorn the earth, or gather lilies from the 
 vales, you may, with filial confidence, 
 say, " My Father made them all." 
 
 Flowers not only please the senses, 
 but they instruct the mind. Every plant 
 which shoots up from the bosom of the 
 earth speaks forth ''the manifold wisdom 
 of God." Even the most fragile floAver 
 which we crash under our feet affords 
 the same evidence of his perfections as 
 the stars which twinkle in the sky, or the 
 moon which shines in silver bright. ' ' The 
 name of God is whispered in the wind, 
 woven in the leaves, crystallized in rocks, 
 and written in flowers." 
 
 " You remind me," said Charlotte, 
 " of some lines of poetry which I learned 
 some time ago." 
 
 And will you repeat them, Charlotte ?
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 43 
 
 " The just Creator condescends to write 
 In beams of inextinguishable light, 
 His names of goodness, power, and love, 
 On all that blooms below or shines above." 
 
 "And I can say some verses -which 
 my mother taught me," said little Anna. 
 
 "God is in the torrent's fall, 
 
 God is in the summer breeze, 
 God is in the thunder's call, 
 God is in the whispering trees. 
 
 "Where the lowly violet springs, 
 Where the faithful ivy clings, 
 Where the small bird sweetly sings, 
 There, forever there, is God." 
 
 Yes, children, although flowers which 
 ornament the earth, and serve as an extra 
 source of delight to our senses, and which 
 unfold their beauties to us for a short 
 time only, yet require the same power to 
 produce them and make them bloom as 
 it does to create a world. Man has not 
 this power. You see the noble ship 
 4*
 
 44 
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 which sails upon the waters, and outrides 
 in many instances, the stormy ocean 
 That is built by man. 
 
 He goes into the 
 
 'forest, and cuts down the large trees, 
 hews out timber from them, and puts it 
 together in a shape adapted to float on
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 45 
 
 the water. He erects the masts, puts on 
 the rigging and blocks, cuts the sails, 
 and furls them to the spars. And when 
 the sails are spread, and the noble ship 
 moves gracefully on the water?, or ploughs 
 the ocean, with her heavy and valuable 
 cargo, she then appears a proud monu- 
 ment of the human mind. But the same 
 persons who built that vessel could not 
 produce one of the smallest of these flow- 
 ers, nor grow a single spire of grass. 
 
 Look here, children, and see the deli- 
 cate mechanism which is displayed in 
 this one flower. We will take it all 
 apart, and examine it carefully. You 
 see how wisely it is planned. Observe 
 the shape of the leaves, and the beauti- 
 ful red color, gradually fading, down to 
 the petal, to a light yellow. See how 
 perfectly the leaves all taper to a single 
 point, and meet around the stem, each 
 leaf moulded into its socket. There they 
 derive support, and mutually grow to-
 
 46 THE LILY AMONO, FLOWERS. 
 
 gether. The edge of each leaf is nicely 
 scolloped, and in the delicate bosom of 
 the flower is deposited the spark of vege- 
 table life. What workman could con- 
 struct so perfectly ? Where is the paint- 
 er who could arrange so finely the deli- 
 cate shades of each leaf? Or who could 
 fill its little cells so regularly, every day, 
 with the delightful odor which makes fra- 
 grant the atmosphere around us ? 
 
 James, who had been listening with 
 much interest to my questions, and exam- 
 ining the various parts of the flower, 
 looked up, with a smiling countenance, 
 and promptly answered, " God." 
 
 Here we have the flower all in pieces. 
 Now, children, take the leaves, petals, 
 and stem, to the man who builds the 
 noble ship, and ask him if he can put the 
 flower together, as it was before we ex- 
 amined it ; and he will tell you that he 
 has not the power, nor can he cause one 
 like it to grow. The mind of man may
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 47 
 
 copy the works of nature, but the infmito 
 mind only can create them. 
 
 "I see very clearly," said Sarah, 
 " that the works of nature do not como 
 to us by chance. They certainly indi- 
 cate thought and design." 
 
 What argument can you present to 
 prove it? 
 
 " Why, this. Last May-day I made 
 up a wreath of artificial flowers. I spent 
 some time in cutting out the paper flow- 
 ers, and I know I thought and planned in 
 arranging the leaves, and in putting them 
 in the right place upon the wire stem." 
 
 Yes, that is a very good illustration ; 
 and you might also see that it requires 
 much time, thought, and patience, for a 
 man to learn how to build a ship, or con- 
 struct the houses we live in. And wo 
 might say, with as much propriety, that 
 the ship was built and sails by chance, 
 or that our houses come to us by chance, 
 as to say these flowers grow without an
 
 48 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 intelligent cause. We may truly say, 
 "0 Lord, how manifold are thy works! 
 in wisdom hast thou made them all." 
 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the 
 earth ; by understanding hath' he estab- 
 lished the heavens. By his knowledge 
 the depths are broken up, and the clouds 
 drop down the dew. He that built all 
 things is God." 
 
 It is time, children, for us to return. 
 " 0, yes," said one of the little boys; 
 /' mother told us to be sure and be at 
 home in season." 
 
 This afternoon we will meet again. 
 " Certainly," said Mary ; for I just be- 
 gin to feel an interest in the flowers. I 
 always thought them to be very beauti- 
 ful, but I see they contain much instruc- 
 tion." 
 
 So we meet again after school ; and, 
 as you are going home to your mothers, 
 take with you a few of these wild-flow- 
 ers. They will receive them as an evi-
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 49 
 
 dence of your affection, and it will show 
 that you do not forget them when absent 
 from home. So I leave you, with a ques- 
 tion and an answer : 
 
 Why do flowers bloom, mother ? 
 
 Why do the sweet flowers bloom ? 
 And brightest those we reared, mother, 
 
 Around my brother's tomb ? 
 
 To fill the world with gladness, 
 My child, were flowers given ; 
 
 To crown the earth with beauty, 
 And lift our thoughts to heaven.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 WELL, children, we meet again. A 
 lovely afternoon it is, flowers in abun- 
 dance. No wonder they have attracted 
 the attention of persons in all nges of tho 
 world. Flowers, undoubtedly, bloomed 
 with rare and exquisite beauty in tho 
 garden of Eden ; and ever since then, 
 they have appeared in the balmy spring, 
 to give life and beauty to the earth. 
 
 What sort of a flower is that, Anna, 
 which you have in your hand ? 
 
 "It is a wind-flower, and it means 
 anticipation." 
 
 A very appropriate meaning, indeed, 
 for I have anticipated this ramble to-day 
 with much pleasure. 
 
 I have often thought, children, what a 
 great variety of flowers there are. Every 
 species is formed on a separate plan, and
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 51 
 
 exhibits something entirely new. Every 
 class has an appearance of its own, which 
 is truly original. I think this variety is 
 very well expressed by the author of Re- 
 flections on the Flower Garden. "There 
 is an apparent difference, as well as 
 peculiar delicacy, in the airs and liabils, 
 the attitude and lineaments, cf every dis- 
 tinct class. Some rear their heads, and 
 overlook the whole parterre. Others 
 seem more moderate in their aims, and 
 advance only to the middle stations, 
 which might be termed the gentry of the 
 border ; while others, free from all aspir- 
 ing views, creep upon the ground, and 
 look like the commonalty of the kind. 
 Some are intersected with elegant stripes, 
 or studded with radiant spots. Sjme. 
 affect to be genteelly powdered or neatly 
 fringed, while others are plain in their 
 aspect, unaffected in their dress. Some 
 assume the monarch's purple, some look 
 most becoming in the virgin's white ; 
 5
 
 62 THE LILY AMO&G FLOWERS. 
 
 bat black, doleful black, has no place in 
 the wardrobe of spring." 
 
 Flowers also appear in regular succes- 
 sion ; so that we have them, in all their 
 variety of colors, through all seasons of 
 the year, each class in its appropriate 
 season, 
 
 "To the heart inspiring 
 Vernal delight and joy." 
 
 
 No one need be sad, amid the crea- 
 tion of blooming flowers. Their wonder-
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 53 
 
 ful delicacy, agreeable hues, and pure 
 fragrance, never cease to make silent 
 appeals to our senses. And this arrange- 
 ment of one class of flowers following 
 another through the varied seasons, shows 
 the wisdom of our Heavenly Father, in 
 adapting these external sources of beauty 
 to the human mind. 
 
 Let us now talk about the early spring 
 flowers. Which is the earliest, Sarah, 
 and what would you call it ? 
 
 " The snowdrop. I think it might 
 be called the harbinger of spring. Its 
 sentiment is consolation" 
 
 Yes, the snowdrop appears long before 
 the trees unfold their leaves. It comes 
 up through the frosty ground, clothed in 
 its pure white robe. The crocus is next 
 in order, and peeps out from the ground 
 as though it would cautiously face the 
 howling winds. 
 
 " That is called cheerfulness" said 
 Charlotte.
 
 54 THE LILY AMON<3- FLOWERS. 
 
 I think the poet has well expressed itg 
 character in verse : 
 
 "Life's sky, though clothed with tempest clouds, 
 
 Grows bright when thou art nigh ; 
 And tears e'er turn to smiles beneath 
 Thine angel-gifted eye." 
 
 II Here," said Mary, " is a violet. 
 What a pretty, humble flower this is ! I 
 think humility would be a very appro- 
 priate sentiment." 
 
 Mrs. Lnnclor calls it modesty. It 13 
 emblematic, indeed, of modest virtue,, 
 which seeks to administer comfort, rather 
 than to win admiration. 
 
 Humility, Mary, is a shining virtue ; 
 it is so intimately connected with a meek 
 and quiet spirit, that it may be said to 
 be of great price. True humility is not 
 meanness, ncrr cowardice, nor a want of 
 just self-esteem. It is to have a right 
 view of ourselves, just as we are. IIu-
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 55 
 
 milifcy is a very bright ornament in the 
 Christian character. 
 
 " Here is a spring flower," said James, 
 " with a great many colors, but I do not 
 know what it means." 
 
 "0, that is the auricula-scarlet," re- 
 plied Charlotte ; "that means that wealth 
 is not happiness. How prettily it is 
 dressed ! A crystal eye, satin gown, and 
 silver powdered." 
 
 But how soon it will be gone ! These 
 flowers, which appear early in the spring, 
 last but a short time. They leave us 
 about the time the tulips begin to bud 
 upon their stately stalks. If you exam- 
 ine alt of them, you will find them of 
 very delicate texture, possessing beau- 
 teous colors. They teach us that "fairest 
 flowers fade the soonest," and that they 
 require very careful attention when they 
 are taken up and transplanted to the gar- 
 den. 
 
 I will here tell you something about 
 5*
 
 56 
 
 THE LILY 
 
 FLOWERS. 
 
 Chavlcs Linnaeus, who was very fond of 
 plants and flowers, and hence the boys 
 used to call him Charley Lily. And 
 when quite a lad, he would go out into 
 the fields, and gather flowers and plants 
 by the basketful, and bring them home, 
 
 in order to study their properties. By 
 this means he became quite familiar with
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 57 
 
 botany when very young ; and here was 
 laid the foundation of his extensive 
 knowledge, which distinguished him in 
 later years. His father made the works 
 of nature a great study, and became the 
 author of new classifications in the three 
 principal vegetable kingdoms. After his 
 death, about three thousand letters were 
 found among his papers, from celebrated 
 persons, expressing their admiration of his 
 theory of vegetation. The most brilliant 
 period of his life was spent at Upsal, in 
 Sweden, where, amid the beauties of one 
 of the most flourishing gardens in Europe, 
 he used to deliver lectures on botany, 
 natural history, the medicinal virtues of 
 plants, and nosology. 
 
 " Nosology, what does that mean ? " 
 asked William. 
 
 It means a systematic arrangement or 
 classification of diseases. One who 
 arranges diseases in order, and gives
 
 58 THE LILY AMONft FLOWERS. 
 
 them suitable names, is called a nosolo- 
 gist. 
 
 At one time Mr. Linnaeus had under 
 his care about two hundred pupils. In 
 the summer season he and his pupils 
 would go out to explore the country ; 
 and, as they scattered in small parties, 
 looking in different directions for plants, 
 when any one discovered a rare plant, or 
 natural curiosity, a signal was given, by 
 the blowing of a horn, when the whole 
 company would assemble, to hear the 
 remarks made by their teacher. On their 
 return home, they adorned their hats 
 with flowers, and marched to the sound 
 of their musical instruments. By this 
 means of imparting instruction, a vast 
 number of young men added to their 
 stock of knowledge, and were preserved 
 from the haunts of vice and folly. 
 
 He also formed his theory on the sleep 
 of plants, and proved that they slept at 
 regular intervals, like animals.
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 59 
 
 "Do plants sleep?" inquired little 
 Anna. 
 
 0, yes, Anna. All the works of na- 
 ture have their time for quiet repose. 
 What I now tell you will show that God 
 has made the outer covering of these 
 flowers for a wise purpose. 
 
 I told you that Limucus was much 
 engaged in the productions of the earth. 
 The first Royal Museum was established 
 by him, in Sweden; and when there was 
 any remarkable curiosity discovered in 
 the king's dominions, he sent it to Lin- 
 nscus, for him to describe. lie had sent 
 him the seed of the lotus, from Montpe- 
 lier. lie planted it in the garden, where 
 it bore two flowers. He was much de- 
 lighted with them, and requested the 
 gardener to give special attention to 
 them. After two days, on his returning 
 home, late in the evening, he went into 
 the garden to look at them, but they 
 were not to be found. He went again
 
 60 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 the next night, and they were still invis- 
 ible. But the next morning they appeared 
 as usual ; but the gardener thought they 
 were fresh ones, as there was not any to 
 be found the evening before. Linnaeus 
 pondered over the circumstance, and went 
 again the same evening, hoping to solve 
 the mystery. They had again vanished, 
 and he continued searching, and at last 
 found them 'closely folded up, and their 
 leaves contracted over them. This awak- 
 ened a new train of ideas in his mind ; 
 so he takes his lantern, and goes out in 
 the night in the garden and hot-houses. 
 There he finds the whole vegetable crea- 
 tion in a dormant state. The flowers 
 were concealed under their leaves, and 
 they had all the appearance of being 
 asleep. This led him to introduce the 
 theory of the sleep of plants. From this 
 discovery he formed a vegetable clock, 
 wherein the hours of the day were marked 
 by the different periods at which certain
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 61 
 
 flowers began to close their blossoms ; 
 and in the same manner he framed a 
 rural calendar, for the regulation of the 
 labors of the husbandman, according to 
 the appearance of the blossoms of plants 
 at stated intervals. 
 
 But Linnoeus was all this time strug- 
 gling with poverty. Many had the priv- 
 ilege of ministering to his wants, by 
 giving him food and clothes. lie would 
 mend his old shoes with strong, thick 
 paper, and stitch the soles with thread 
 formed of the tough inner bark of the 
 trees. But he struggled through all his 
 disadvantages, till he finally secured the 
 office of a professor of natural history. 
 
 I will now tell you something of his 
 early life, in which you will see the ori- 
 gin of his eminence as a student of the 
 works of nature. 
 
 He was born at Rashult, a small village 
 in the province of Smaland, on the 13th 
 of May, 1707. His ancestors were peas-
 
 62 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 
 
 
 ants ; they afterwards left their primitive 
 occupation of farming, and, at the same 
 time, changed their name. It was a cus- 
 tom in Sweden to take names from some 
 natural object ; so they took the name 
 of Linddhis Tiliandcr (which means, 
 linden-tree man), from a lofty linden 
 tree, which stood in the vicinity of their 
 native place. Charles' father was the 
 pastor of the village, and, being very 
 fond of gardening, his son became much 
 interested in plants and flowers. He had 
 the advantage of a very extensive and 
 good garden annexed to the house, which 
 he soon made one of the finest in the 
 whole district. He planted in it over four 
 hundred different species of flowers, many 
 of which he procured from foreign coun- 
 tries, and were considered very valuable. 
 When Charles was eight years of age, 
 his father gave him a separate spot of 
 ground, and called it " Charles' Garden." 
 Out he went into the woods and mead-
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 C3 
 
 ows, and gathered plants and flowers, 
 wild herbs and weeds, and covered over 
 the whole patch of land ; but, not being 
 BO well acquainted with gardening, ho 
 was often compelled to call the aid of 
 his father in his work. The first turn of 
 
 his mind towards the works of nature was 
 decidedly manifest when he was about 
 four years old. He went out with his 
 father to a feast, at Mohlem, in the even- 
 ing, it being a pleasant season of the 
 year ; the guests seated themselves 
 G
 
 04 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 around, on the flowery turf, when his 
 father made some remarks on the various 
 plants and roots, calling them by name. 
 Charles paid great attention to what his 
 father said, and, from that time, he would 
 constantly tease his father about the 
 nature and names of every plant and 
 flower he saw. But, being very young, 
 he was unable to remember the names, 
 and his father had to tell him over and 
 over again. At last, when he told him 
 the name of any plant or flower, he made 
 him promise that he would try to remem- 
 ber. By this means, Charles soon learned 
 the names of plants ; and, by remember- 
 ing what his father told him, he laid the 
 foundation of great eminence. 
 
 To remember what is useful is neces- 
 sary to a well-furnished mind. Now, 
 children, if you begin early to remember 
 what you may hear and learn, that is 
 useful, it will be of great advantage to 
 you in your riper years.
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 65 
 
 Now let us see who of you can remem- 
 ber what we were talking about, when 
 I began to tell you the story of Charles. 
 
 "You were telling us," said James, 
 "about the early spring flowers; and 
 when they left us, that others appeared." 
 
 Yes, I was showing the wisdom of 
 God, in adorning the earth by a regular 
 succession of flowers, through the differ- 
 ent seasons of the year. 
 
 The polyanthus and the tulip begin to 
 blossom about the time those I have men- 
 tioned begin to fade. The anemone is 
 another delicate flower, which soon fol- 
 lows them. It has a beautiful dome on 
 its top, and a spreading robe at its base. 
 With its gentle bending tuft and flowing 
 mantle, it displays the nicest symmetry. 
 When it is exposed to the sun, its green 
 leaves gradually turn to a golden lustre. 
 
 "I have heard it called," said Char- 
 lotte, "the fine gentleman of the gar- 
 den."
 
 66 THE LILY AMONQ* FLOWERS. 
 
 It is so called by a celebrated florist, 
 because it has the address of uniting sim- 
 plicity with refinement, and reconciling 
 art with ease. 
 
 In the same month appears the ranun- 
 culus. It has a very graceful form, arid 
 is clothed in rich foliage. By degrees 
 it acquires a beautiful enamel, which is 
 the finishing touch of nature's pencil. It 
 is one of those flowers which gradually 
 improve, till they have attained their per- 
 fection. So all of us may improve our 
 advantages, in the acquisition of knowl- 
 edge and true piety. 
 
 The carnation is a flower of a very 
 pleasant odor, and combines all the per- 
 fections of the early ones, and answers 
 as a substitute for them, when they have 
 disappeared. 
 
 " That flower," said Mary, " signifies 
 pride and beauty. I suppose it is so 
 called from its stately appearance and 
 variegated colors."
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 67 
 
 The ''gillyflower appears late in the 
 season. This survives all changes of the 
 weather, and lives in the garden as a 
 permanent occupant, and not, like others, 
 as mere visitors. Charlotte calls this 
 flower, "bonds of affection ;" but fidelity 
 and friendship are terms equally as ap- 
 propriate. The former term means a 
 careful observance of duty, and the lat- 
 ter, true friendship, which is founded in 
 mutual love. Then, if you are true 
 friends to each other, you will be kind, 
 and ready to assist each other in the time 
 of need. You will repose confidence in 
 each other. The Saviour said to his dis- 
 ciples, "I have called you friends." He 
 honored them with his confidence, his 
 heart was open to them all. He was a 
 real friend to them. He gave them re- 
 proof and counsel, and manifested a warm 
 sympathy for them in their trials, which 
 is a test of true friendship. 
 
 "I think," said Charlotte, "if there 
 6*
 
 C8 THE LILY AMONJJ FLOWERS. 
 
 was more of such friendship in the world, 
 it would be much better than it is." 
 
 Well, we must all do our part in this 
 matter, by cultivating that friendship 
 which is founded on right principle. 
 Now, if you, children, start in life aright, 
 you will be useful and happy. You will 
 be friends to others, and that will be one 
 means of making friends to yourselves. 
 
 Let me tell the story of Harriet and 
 her umbrella, which will illustrate the 
 happiness we may derive in making our- 
 selves useful to others. 
 
 When Harriet B set out for 
 
 school, the sun shone brightly ; but be- 
 fore she had gone far, it began to rain 
 fast. She opened the umbrella, and 
 hurried on. 
 
 " Please, miss," said a voice behind 
 her, "let me walk under your umbrella." 
 Harriet started, and, turning round, saw 
 a little girl about as tall as herself, shab- 
 bily dressed, and having on her head a
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 69 
 
 faded bonnet. Harriet hesitated, as she 
 was just turning from Fourth-street^ 
 when she expected to meet several of 
 her schoolmates, and she felt that she 
 should not like to be seen walking with 
 such a companion. But, on reflection, 
 she said, " Now, if I can do a little kind- 
 ness, no matter if the girls do laugh. I 
 am not doing wrong." 
 
 The poor girl was waiting for an an- 
 swer. Harriet immediately bid her come 
 close under her umbrella, that she might 
 be entirely shielded from the rain. 
 
 " Thank you, miss," said the little 
 girl. Harriet was glad that she had not 
 refused the poor child's request. They 
 walked on together, side by side, while 
 Harriet was enjoying the pleasing reflec- 
 tion that she was preventing her little 
 companion from spoiling her bonnet 
 They had walked as far as Sixth-street, 
 when the little girl pointed up, and 
 said, " I have got an errand to do at
 
 70 THE LILY AMON FLOWERS. 
 
 that store. I can go there quick, and 
 wait till it stops raining. Good-by, miss ; 
 thank you very much." 
 
 Harriet insisted on going with her to 
 the door, because her motive in letting 
 the poor girl come under the umbrella 
 was to secure the faded bonnet from 
 getting wet. So Harriet accompanied 
 her little companion to the store, and 
 saw her safe inside. She then turned, 
 and pursued her way to the school, 
 happy, because she had done right ; and 
 better, because she had made an effort to 
 strengthen the good principle in her 
 mind. 
 
 "If," said she, "I have saved that 
 little girl from a scolding, or her mother 
 from fretting about the bonnet, I have 
 taken one bit from the heap of misery 
 to-day." 
 
 This act will illustrate the true princi- 
 ples which we should always remember. 
 // is more blessed to give than to receive.
 
 THE LILY" AMONG FLOWERS. 71 
 
 Do unto others as you would that others 
 should do unto you. 
 
 There is a way for all of us to make 
 ourselves useful. And there is satisfac- 
 tion in being able to do a small act of 
 kindness, wjien we may not have the 
 means of doing a great one. 
 
 " And where there is a will," said 
 Mary, " there is always a way." 
 
 Certainly ; and what is most needed 
 in performing Christian duties is the will. 
 There are always opportunities. 
 
 Mr. Newton divided the world into 
 two heaps, of human happiness and mis- 
 ery. He says: " If I can take the 
 smallest bit from one heap, and add to 
 the other, I carry a point. If, as I go 
 home, a child has dropped a half-penny, 
 and if, by giving it another, I can wipe 
 away its tears, I feel that I have done 
 something." 
 
 Now, any person may be willing to do 
 a small act of kindness, where there is
 
 72 THE LILY AMONa FLOWERS. 
 
 not much trouble or expense attending 
 it. But we must be ready to do a greater 
 one, when the circumstances demand it, 
 with as much cheerfulness. Principle is 
 important in the act of doing good. 
 This is what made the widow's mite a 
 valuable offering, which she so readily 
 cast into the treasury. By cultivating 
 the spirit of true friendship and benevo- 
 lence in small things, it will aid us in 
 performing the duties of charity, as every 
 day requires. 
 
 As it is time for us to be going home, 
 I will repeat a very excellent poem, 
 which expresses the spirit of true friend- 
 ship, and which you may wish to learn 
 at some leisure time. Then we will 
 part, and at our next meeting renew our 
 subject. 
 
 FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 Have we friends that will love us, when tho nighfc 
 
 cometh on, 
 When prosperity's sun has all faded and gone,
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 73 
 
 Who will shield us from slander, when riches take 
 
 wing? 
 If so, we are happy ; to such let us cling. 
 
 When our spirits are sad, and we 're weary of earth, 
 Have we those who will cheer us with innocent 
 
 mirth? 
 Who will bid us rejoice, and some sweet song will 
 
 sing ? 
 If so, we are happy ; to such let us cling. 
 
 Have we those who through sickness will watch by 
 
 our bed, 
 When the gay, glowing visions of earth shall havo 
 
 fled? 
 Who across our dark pathway some bright ray will 
 
 fling ? 
 If so, we are happy ; to such let us cling. 
 
 And oh! when we've passed to that bright, happy 
 
 land, 
 Have we those who will sigh, as we 're missed from 
 
 their band ? 
 And the flowers we have loved to our graves will 
 
 they bring? 
 If so, we are happy ; to such let us cling.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 AT our last meeting, we noticed tho 
 regular succession of flowers; and I 
 think we saw sufficient evidence of tho 
 divine goodness, in giving to us a pleas- 
 ant abode, by wisely arranging its orna- 
 mental costume. Now, in every month 
 we see new beauties in the floral world. 
 If all the flowers blossomed and decayed 
 together, there would be a sameness in 
 the scenery of the earth, and at once a 
 total privation of what is now a pleasing 
 variety. But, as the arrangement now 
 is, the scenery of nature is constantly 
 diversified, and our summer paths inces- 
 santly strewed with flowers. 
 
 " There is much instruction," said 
 Mary, "to be derived from flowers; and 
 I think I shall gather them with very
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 75 
 
 different feelings from what I have been 
 accustomed to cherish." 
 
 Yes, Mary, if we cherish and culti- 
 vate right feelings, in our contempla- 
 tions of God's works, we shall derive 
 instruction from the flowers of the field, 
 as well as from every part of his creation. 
 
 Some people go out among their na- 
 tive hills to gather flowers, and there 
 contrast their colors, inhale their sweet- 
 ness, and form them into bouquets, to 
 distribute among their friends, or for 
 some festive occasion, or to fade and die 
 in the vase, without any reference to the 
 lessons they impart. But when we look 
 through them up to the source of all 
 purity and goodness, we shall read their 
 simple language with profit, and aim to 
 cultivate their silent graces ; for 
 
 " There 's not a plant or flower below 
 But makes God's glories known." 
 
 There b no scene more beautiful than 
 
 7
 
 76 
 
 THE LILY AMON FLOWERS. 
 
 to see children learning about God. 
 You may go out into the fields, and, 
 under the shady trees, sit on the green 
 banks, by the flowing stream, and there 
 derive much instruction from the lovely 
 scenes of nature. Every flower, plant 
 and tree, teaches us something of the wis- 
 dom of the great Creator. How happy 
 
 must those children be who live in the 
 country, and around whose dwellings
 
 THE LILT AMONG FLOWERS. 77 
 
 there are so many advantages for moral 
 and religious improvement. 
 
 "I know," said Charlotte, "that 
 many persons cultivate flowers, merely 
 because they like to see them." 
 
 I have somewhere read of an eccen- 
 tric man, who cultivated a garden of 
 flowers and plants, which the neighbors 
 caUed "The Enchanted Forest of the 
 Poet." It was filled with every variety 
 of the fairest and choicest flowers he 
 could select. Yet, there were those of 
 the hardy class, discolored, unsightly, 
 and without fragrance. But they had 
 their place in his garden, with the choic- 
 est plants and the most delicate blos- 
 soms. And the sun shone on them, and 
 the dew sparkled on their leaves with as 
 bright a lustre as on the honey-flower, 
 the jasmine, or the bridal rose. He was 
 asked why he cultivated them, to which 
 he replied, " They are flowers, and God 
 made them."
 
 & THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 He was accustomed to give to many 
 of his flowers the names of persons whom 
 he thought or fancied they resembled, 
 that is, he called certain persons by the 
 names which his flowers bore. For ex- 
 ample : when he became acquainted with 
 individuals, and learned their natural 
 temperament, or discovered the general 
 turn of their mind, he would call them 
 by the name of a flower. If they were 
 cheerful, he would give to them the 
 name of crocus; and to one who possessed 
 a tranquil mind, he would give the 
 name of lemon. But he said that he 
 could rarely find one whose qualities, in 
 every respect, would answer to the white 
 lily. This is a very sweet and graceful 
 flower, which lifts its head in modest 
 dignity, yet in conscious purity, looking 
 towards heaven, and commands the ad- 
 miration of every lover of virtue and 
 purity. 
 
 There was one person, of whom he
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 79 
 
 thought the white lily was a fit emblem. 
 Her manners were graceful and digni- 
 fied, and her spirit gentle and pure ; and 
 when the lady died and was buried, it is 
 said our friend followed her to the grave, 
 and deposited in it the white lily, with 
 its pure, rich petals broken and crushed. 
 He said that he always considered that 
 flower a beautiful emblem of pure affec- 
 tion. 
 
 In another part of his garden grew the 
 " Lily of the Valley." Its pure, white, 
 bell-shaped flowers cling to a slender 
 stalk, and are enclosed under the broad 
 green leaves. It grows best in low 
 lands, in moist and shady ground. 
 This flower he did not appropriate to 
 any individual ; and when asked if he 
 had any correspondence for the emblem 
 in human life, replied : " There is one 
 who hath said, ' I am the Lily of the 
 Valley.' " He regarded that flower as a 
 true type of the Saviour's own purity. 
 7*
 
 80 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 " The lily which we gather from the 
 lowlands," said Sarah, "begins to droop 
 almost as soon as it is separated from its 
 roots. Its fragrance is soon gone, and 
 its pure white leaves lose their freshness 
 and beauty." 
 
 Yes, the lily fades, and becomes a 
 striking emblem of mortality ; and, ac- 
 cording to my promise, I will now tell 
 you something about the lilies that have 
 faded and gone. There are many fami- 
 lies who have missed some of the lilies in 
 their gardens. In the Scriptures, chil- 
 dren are called "olive plants" around 
 the domestic table ; but they sometimes 
 droop and die, and leave the family cir- 
 cle bereft of its bright little ornaments. 
 And there is no scene more affecting to 
 the family survivors than to see the 
 vacant seat around their table. Good 
 children are parents' choicest jewels ; 
 and, even when there are a large num-
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 81 
 
 ber in a family, not one can be spared 
 without prolonged grief. 
 
 A venerable minister, who had a large 
 family of children, was asked by a friend 
 which of them he could spare best. He 
 replied, as he looked around upon them 
 all, "Not one. This," putting his hand 
 upon the eldest, "is our first born. The 
 
 second has some excellent qualities, and 
 I hope will be useful in the world. The
 
 82 THE LILY AMONG, FLOWERS. 
 
 third is the image of his mother, and the 
 next is a playful little daughter ; and 
 this," taking the little babe in his arms, 
 "is our little pet." 
 
 Good children are sources of enjoy- 
 ment to their parents, when they are 
 kind, affectionate, and obedient ; but the 
 joy of parents is often turned to sorrow, 
 when He who takes but what he gives 
 comes into the garden of our households, 
 to gather lilies, that he may transplant 
 them in a better soil. 
 
 "I have seen," said little Anna, "a 
 number of little graves in the church- 
 yard, which were shorter than I." 
 
 Yes, and the graves of little children 
 generally attract the notice of strangers. 
 In the summer of 1845 I went with a 
 friend to visit the Greenwood Cemetery, 
 which is situated about three miles from 
 Brooklyn, New York. We first visited 
 the spot where poor McDonald Clarke 
 was buried. Over his remains was erected
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 83 
 
 a simple monument, on which was en- 
 graved the epitaph that was composed 
 by himself : 
 
 " Let silence gaze, but curse not his grave." 
 
 The other lines, directly under the 
 above, express the feelings of his friends 
 towards one who had been unfortunate in 
 life. 
 
 " By Friendship's -willing hand erected, 
 By Genius, Taste, and Art adorned ; 
 For one too long in life neglected, 
 But now in death sincerely mourned." 
 
 We did not stop here but a short time, 
 but hastened to a distant part of the 
 cemetery, which was selected for graves. 
 Those who are buried there are of all 
 ages, from the child of the cradle up to 
 the aged sire. I noticed quite a number 
 of the little white stones that were erected 
 in memory of dear little children ; and, 
 from their ages, knew that Death had
 
 84 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 entered many household gardens, and 
 taken away some of the youngest of the 
 flowers. I kneeled down on the grass, 
 and, with a pencil, wrote several names 
 of the children in a book, with the lines 
 which were engraved on the stones, as 
 mementoes of parental affection. One 
 was a little girl, aged two years, by the 
 name of Cornelia P. Copeland. 
 
 Sweet bud of being, for a moment given, 
 To show how pure young spirits are in heaven ; 
 Then snatched, in love, from all the woes of earth, 
 Not dead, but wakened to a nobler birth. 
 
 Very near this, was another faded 
 flower. Its name was Francis A. Page, 
 aged three years and two months. 
 
 This lovely bud, so young 
 
 Called hence by early doom, 
 Just came to show how sweet a flower 
 
 In paradise would bloom. 
 
 In the same row of stones was one 
 erected to the memory of a little girl,
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 85 
 
 aged four years, by the name of Emma 
 Hodgkins. The lines engraved upon her 
 stone are the sentiments of another. 
 
 "Lay her in the earth, and from her fair and unpol- 
 luted flesh may violets spring." 
 
 A short distance from this I noticed 
 the name of Sophia, aged seven months, 
 with the impressive words of the Saviour, 
 
 " Of such is the kingdom of heaven." 
 
 This brought to my mind that ancient 
 scene recorded by the evangelist, when 
 the children, not being old enough to 
 come by choice, were brought by their 
 parents to the Saviour, that he might 
 bless them. The disciples rebuked them, 
 but Jesus said, " Suffer little children to 
 come unto me, and forbid them not, for 
 of such is the kingdom of heaven;" 
 meaning that they should be brought to 
 him, as lovely and amiable, uncorrupted 
 by the sins of the world, and having
 
 86 THE LILY AMONQ FLOWERS. 
 
 those traits of mind which would give 
 them a place in his kingdom. 
 
 As I walked a little further, I saw 
 another stone at the head of a little grave, 
 much shorter than the rest, containing 
 the name of the child only. I turned 
 away from that garden of lilies, with the 
 thought that when our Heavenly Father 
 removes a lily from among the flowers of 
 our household gardens, 
 
 "Earth hath one mortal less, 
 Heaven has one angel more." 
 
 There are several records of early death 
 which occur to me, and may not be out 
 of place in this little wreath of faded 
 lilies. Catherine Frances Johnson was 
 but four years old when her parents were 
 called to part with her. She was bora 
 in Medfield, and on her tombstone are 
 these words : 
 
 The bud, within its honeyed cup, 
 Exposed so fair a blossom,
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 87 
 
 The Saviour kindly took it up, 
 And put it in his bosom. 
 
 George Emerson, a lovely babe, and 
 the youngest child of John and Sarah P. 
 Smith, died in Medway, a short time 
 since, and the parents laid it away in the 
 silent grave. 
 
 " 0, weep not for the early dead, 
 
 The gentle and the fair, 
 Who to the peaceful grave have gone, 
 
 "With hearts untouched by care. 
 When scarce their eyes had learned to weep, 
 
 They sought a brighter home, 
 Where sorrow finds no willing place, 
 
 And tears are never known." 
 
 Elizabeth M. Peck was a member of 
 a Sabbath-school in Shelburne Falls. 
 There she received instructions from her 
 teacher which we have reason to hope 
 were blessed to her, and prepared her to 
 praise the Saviour while she lived, and 
 when dying to say, "Lord Jesus, quickly 
 come." 
 
 8
 
 88 THE LILY AMONG1, FLOWERS. 
 
 " The fairest flower on earth must fade, 
 
 Whatever be its hue ; 
 'T will sparkle but a little while, 
 Then waste like morning dew. 
 
 " This lovely bud was opening fast, 
 
 But, in its early bloom, 
 Death severed it from off its stem, 
 And laid it in the tomb." 
 
 In the town of Franklindale, a little 
 flower, only one year and eight months 
 old, was planted in the burial garden ; 
 Sarah Ann Judson, the only daughter 
 of a clergyman. But she is 
 
 " Not lost ! I cannot say farewell, 
 
 Though dust to dust be given ; 
 Thy smile seems lingering on me still, 
 
 Yet touched with light from heaven; 
 Thy voice steals o'er me, but no tone 
 
 Of grief is in the strain ; 
 I weep, yet would not call thee back 
 
 To earth's dim scenes again." 
 
 Charles Edward, a twin child of dear 
 parents, was separated from his little
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 89 
 
 mate. Both saw the light together, and 
 were tenderly cherished by a kind mother. 
 Death came and blighted this little bud, 
 but one year old. The lines which fol- 
 low are very appropriate. 
 
 " Two flowers were blooming by each other's side, 
 
 Alike in beauty, fragrance, strength and days ; 
 A hand from heaven came gently, and untied 
 
 The thread that held them like a gem of rays : 
 To brighter gardens one's fair petals bore, 
 But left its twin in beauty, as before." 
 
 Emily Francis, at the early age of 
 eight years, became a child of God, and 
 from that time she manifested her love 
 for religious instruction. Eleven months 
 before she died, she professed her faith 
 in the Saviour ; and when the church in 
 Conway was called to part with this 
 flower, so' early planted in their garden, 
 they felt that it would flourish in a more 
 congenial soil in heaven. At twelve 
 years of age, in life's bright morning,
 
 90 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 with a spirit of cheerful resignation to 
 God, she bade her friends and the scenes 
 of life farewell. 
 
 I will tell you of another little flower, 
 planted in a grove of Gangua trees, a 
 beautiful retired spot, in the distant 
 land of Burmah : Sarah Ann Board- 
 man, the " rosy little daughter" of Mrs. 
 Sarah B. Judson. She died at the age 
 of two years and eight months. She 
 was a bright and lovely child, with blue 
 eyes, yellow hair, and rosy cheeks. She 
 could speak the English and Burmese 
 languages very well for so young a child. 
 She learned the Lord's prayer and sev- 
 eral little hymns, and would chant, for a 
 half an hour at a time, Dr. Judson's lines 
 on the death of a Burmese. A few 
 hours before she died, she kissed her 
 dear parents, and put her little hand over 
 their faces. Her eyes grew dim, and 
 she could not see them distinctly, and, 
 for a moment or two, her mind seemed
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 91 
 
 to be wandering ; then, looking anxious- 
 ly into her mother's face, she said, "I 
 frightened, mamma ! I frightened ! " 
 After her mother dressed this little child, 
 and laid her in the coffin, her dear father 
 offered a prayer, and then they carried 
 the body away, and laid it in the new- 
 made grave, a short distance from the 
 house, among the Gangua trees. Near 
 it is a little Bethel, erected for private 
 devotions. " Thither," says the mother, 
 "we often repair, and we trust that God, 
 who, in his infinite wisdom, has taken 
 our treasure to himself, often meets us 
 there." 
 
 " Thou art a sweet and fragrant flower, 
 
 Mid poisonous, vile weeds blooming ; 
 A lovely star, whose cheering power 
 Makes glad the heavy-footed hour, 
 When midnight clouds are glooming." 
 
 This same mother was called soon after 
 to part with a dear little boy, who was
 
 92 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS 
 
 buried in the mission burial ground, in 
 Calcutta, where rest the remains of three 
 missionaries, Gary, Marshman and Ward. 
 He was laid in the grave at evening, and 
 is remembered as the " little Henry of 
 Serampore." 
 
 Have you ever visited the cemetery 
 at Mount Auburn ? If not, go and see 
 that beautiful spot. There rest the 
 small and the great, and there may be 
 seen mementoes of the wise and the good. 
 As you walk through "Elder Path," you 
 will see the monument of "Frankie." 
 His little form is beautifully chiselled by 
 the sculptor, and is represented as sleep- 
 ing sweetly in the arms of death. 
 
 LITTLE FRANKIE. 
 
 One little bud adorned my bower, 
 
 And shed sweet fragrance round ; 
 It grew in beauty, hour by hour, 
 Till, ah ! the spoiler came in power, 
 And crushed it to the ground.
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 93 
 
 Yet not forever in the dust 
 
 That beauteous bud shall lie ; 
 No ! in the garden of the just, 
 Beneath God's glorious eye, I trust, 
 'T will bloom again on high. c. s. 
 
 The following lines were written by a 
 friend, and were suggested by the death 
 of a little girl named Ursula Bean, of 
 Worcester : 
 
 " Sweet bud of earth, though brightly thou 
 
 Hast bloomed amid the flowers here, 
 We would not mourn, since thou hast gone 
 
 To flourish in a brighter sphere. 
 A few short months, and with this flower 
 
 A sister plant in beauty bloomed ; 
 But death has laid them side by side, 
 
 Within the cold and narrow tomb. 
 But they have found a richer soil, 
 
 A brighter sun, a sweeter sky ; 
 And though the parent stalks are rent, 
 
 Yet for these flowers 'tis gain to die." 
 
 I well remember of reading an account 
 of an estimable lady, who, at the death 
 of her husband, had two little boys left
 
 94 THE LILY AMONfl FLOWERS. 
 
 for her comfort. By a sudden accident, 
 one of them was soon taken from her ; 
 yet she was happy in the reflection that 
 she had one more left. Soon afterwards 
 this one fell into the water, and the 
 intelligence, when brought to her, that 
 he was drowned, led her to say, " I see 
 that my Father in heaven would have 
 all my heart." It was a deep affliction, 
 but it was the means of leading the fond 
 mother to place her affections on Him 
 who takes but what he gives. 
 
 You may have read of the "two lovely 
 sisters," Margaret and Henrietta Flower, 
 who, lovely in their lives, were scarcely 
 divided in their deaths. Henrietta died 
 at the early age of eleven years ; and 
 her fragile sister, a bud of promise, not 
 destined to be nurtured here, soon fol- 
 lowed her, at the age of thirteen. For 
 them, says the biographer, had been one 
 cradle, one fireside, "one Lord, one 
 faith, one baptism." They sleep in the
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 95 
 
 church-yard of their native village, in 
 one grave, to await the resurrection. 
 The person who sketched the portraits 
 of these two lilies says : 
 
 " The small enclosure, which is sacred 
 to their ashes, is adorned with shrubbery, 
 flowers, and trees of unfading verdure. 
 Two evergreens, gifts to them in their 
 happy childhood, which bore their re- 
 spective names, and grew in their own 
 little garden, have been transplanted to 
 their grave. There they stretch forth 
 their vigorous arms, like tried and affec- 
 tionate sentinels. In the boughs of one 
 of them, a bird, for successive seasons, 
 built its nest and reared its young." 
 
 There was an interesting trait in their 
 character, which we could wish to see 
 among all children. They were exceed- 
 ingly fond of each other's society. If 
 they were absent from each other a 
 longer time than usual, they felt not at 
 home. They were not made to be sep-
 
 96 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 arated from each other. One fell asleep 
 in Jesus but a short time before the other 
 sank away in the same bed of repose. 
 They are now united with the innumera- 
 ble company of angels, and the spirits 
 of the just made perfect. 
 
 In a distant land, on the left bank of 
 the Seine, is a region of country distin- 
 guished for its fine orchards and vine- 
 yards, its fragrant meadow lands and 
 fertile hills. To the north of this is a 
 deep forest, which extends for several 
 miles over a space of country, most 
 beautifully diversified with hills and 
 vales, waterfalls and natural bowers. 
 In that forest is a small village, the 
 dwellings of which have thatched roofs,. 
 rural porches, and blooming flower-gar- 
 dens. The author of "Little Henry 
 and his Bearer" gives us an account of 
 some of the scenes connected with his 
 parish ; and tells us, that in that village 
 rest the remains of little Aimee a 
 favorite lily among flowers. I will re-
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 97 
 
 late the substance of an interesting scene 
 connected with this little girl. 
 
 There was to be a feast of flowers, 
 which is customary in that part of the 
 country ; and it was arranged by Aimee's 
 teacher to have the pupils of her school 
 all be present. The teacher took little 
 Aimee by the hand, who was dressed in 
 white, having no other head-dress save 
 the clustering ringlets which hung loose- 
 ly around her neck. In her hand was a 
 wreath of lilies, tied together by her- 
 'self, with a ribbon, to be fastened on her 
 right shoulder. On the occasion of this 
 feast of flowers, was to be presented by 
 the Barrone a crown to one of the people. 
 The crown was an imitation of myrtle ; 
 the leaves being formed of foil, the flow- 
 ers of gold and "mother-of-pearl," and 
 the berries of coral. It was handsomely 
 executed, and the motto was wrought on 
 a blue ribbon, in golden letters, twisted 
 into a wreath.

 
 THE LILT AMONG FLOWERS. 99 
 
 The crown was to be given to her 
 who had selected the most becoming 
 ornament ; and, in giving it, the lady to 
 whom the office was assigned, was to 
 depend on the motto, which she now 
 proceeded to read in a clear and distinct 
 voice. The motto is this : " Whose 
 adorning, let it not be that outward 
 adorning of plaiting the hair, and of 
 wearing of gold, or of putting on of 
 (needless) apparel; but let it be the 
 ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, 
 W -which is, in the sight of God, of great 
 price." The Barrone then, turning her 
 eyes to little Aimee, said: "The lily 
 of the valley is the acknowledged em- 
 blem of humility. It conceals its beau- 
 ties within its verdant covering. It is 
 spotless, pure, and fragrant. Its leaves 
 have a cool and healing influence, and it 
 loves retirement and shade. The lily, 
 therefore,! must consider the best-chosen 
 ornament for a youthful female." 
 9
 
 100 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 There was a burst of applause from 
 the whole circle of pupils, and they 
 seemed to forget themselves, as they 
 fixed their smiling eyes on the little girl 
 to whom the crown had been awarded. 
 Little Aimee then came forward, at the 
 request of the lady ; and, falling on one 
 knee, raised her eyes, and in a low 
 voice said: "Ah! lady, could I wear 
 that crown, I should prove to all here 
 assembled that I am undeserving it. I 
 desire to be pure as the lily, but, dear 
 lady, put not the crown upon my head." 
 There was profound silence in the whole 
 assembly. The lady, still holding the 
 myrtle wreath over Aimee's head, said : 
 " You must submit to wear the crown 
 you have justly merited." 
 
 "Ah ! no," replied Aimee ; and, gen- 
 tly removing the garland of lilies from 
 her shoulders, and laying it on the grass, 
 said : " Please, lady, place the crown 
 upon the garland, and I will endeavor to
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 101 
 
 merit them both if not in life, per- 
 haps in death." 
 
 This act of Aimee's led them all to 
 see that true humility was not a plant 
 of earthly growth. Both the crown and 
 the garland were taken up, and laid in 
 the chapel ; and it was a long time 
 before the impressive scene in the ex- 
 ample of Aimee was effaced from . the 
 youthful circle. 
 
 This lily of the vale was of short dura- 
 tion. Just as the spring flowers began 
 to adorn the earth, little Aimee fell a 
 victim to disease, and about the close of 
 May she died. When she was buried, 
 the crown which she so humbly refused, 
 together with the garland of lilies, which 
 she wore indicative of her meek and 
 quiet spirit, were laid on her coffin. 
 Her young mates, with a numerous as- 
 sembly, came to take the last look of 
 Aimee ; and, as they looked upon her 
 who was now about to be carried to her
 
 102 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 resting-place in the tomb, the tear of 
 affection fell from their eyes. They 
 loved her for her virtues. In the assem- 
 bly was a poor woman to whom Aimee 
 was, ofttimes, a ministering angel ; as 
 she looked in the coffin, she exclaimed : 
 " Blessed little lamb ! Sweet lily of the 
 vale ! "Who shall fill the place thou hast 
 left?" 
 
 The tolling bell now gave the signal 
 for the funeral procession to pass to the 
 grave. The coffin was covered with a 
 white pall, and before it stood, in a 
 semi-circle, all her loved companions. 
 Sad hour to them ! but their loss was 
 her gain, believing she had gone where 
 no garland of roses, or gaudy attire, is 
 needed to adorn the person. On the 
 white pall lay the faded wreath, which 
 the little hands of Aimee, now cold and 
 motionless, had prepared for the occa- 
 sion of festal flowers. And, when the 
 last note of the requiem was dying
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 103 
 
 away, and the deep-toned organ of the 
 church was uttering its last solemn 
 sound, the myrtle crown was then laid 
 on the garland of lilies, emblem of that 
 crown of glory which little Aimee hoped 
 to wear in heaven. Then came the 
 pupils of the school, and, bending over 
 the pall, kissed it, as their last token of 
 affection for this "Lily among Flowers." 
 In closing this little volume, I would 
 ask the attention of my young readers to 
 the importance of cultivating those prin- 
 ciples in early life which form the basis 
 of true living. As lilies fade and die, 
 so will it be with us. We have seen 
 that " Death has all seasons for its own ;" 
 that the earliest spring flowers shoot 
 forth, and to-day expand in all their 
 bloom and beauty, and to-morrow are 
 gone. But while there is a beauty and 
 sweetness in the drooping lily and fading 
 flower, there is also a heavenly calmness 
 in the countenance of those children 
 9*
 
 104 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 who, by a living faith and obedient life, 
 secure to themselves the blessing of God 
 here, and hereafter a home in heaven 
 
 " Go thou, in life's fair morning, 
 
 Go in thy bloom of youth, 
 And buy, for thine adorning, 
 The precious pearl of truth." 
 
 There are a great many pearls, gems, 
 and beautiful things, which attract the 
 attention of children, and which are 
 prized as very precious. But there are 
 no jewels more precious than those which 
 we may call " Christian virtues." The 
 possession of these will be of greater 
 value to you than earthly gems or costly 
 pearls. I once heard of a little girl by 
 the name of Rhoda, in whose every-day 
 life there was such a true consistency of 
 character, that she attracted the notice of 
 the lady in fiishionable life with whom 
 she resided, and on whose mind little 
 Rhoda' s meek and quiet spirit made a
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 105 
 
 lasting impression. One day, as the 
 lady's husband returned from business, 
 he discovered an unusual expression of 
 thoiightfulness upon her countenance, 
 and inquired the cause, as he thought 
 that possibly something might be wrong 
 in her domestic affairs, or that she might 
 have met with some disappointment by 
 friends, in the circle of her acquaintance. 
 He inquired if there was any article 
 wanted in the family which he had not 
 obtained, or if there was any negligence 
 on his part towards her. To which she 
 promptly replied, No. He then asked 
 her if she needed any particular dress. 
 "0, yes," she replied, "I want the 
 garment which little Rhoda wears every 
 day." That garment is one which will 
 never fade and grow dim by use. It is 
 the garment of righteousness. Rhoda 
 was obedient, and devoted to the duties 
 which every day required ; and per- 
 formed them with such a pleasant and
 
 106 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 Christian spirit, that she grew in favor 
 with her mistress, and enjoyed the ap- 
 probation of God. She was an example 
 to others, respected and admired by all 
 those who love goodness. 
 
 That is the highest adorning which a 
 young person can have, that consists of 
 a pure and lovely spirit. If you possess 
 this spirit, and, in the duties of every 
 day, evince it, by a well-regulated de- 
 meanor, you will not fail to exert a 
 happy influence upon those with whom 
 you associate. 
 
 As I tell you the story of Little Emma 
 and her brother, you will see how sweetly 
 a child may trust in God, and even im- 
 part consolation to an afflicted mother. 
 
 In the house of widow B , and on 
 
 the sofa which stood in the centre of the 
 parlor floor, lay the little pale form of 
 Emma, clothed in a white dress. That 
 form looked more like a sleeping cherub 
 than a mortal body. A little bunch of
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 107 
 
 flowers was placed in its right hand, and 
 over its forehead lay the parted locks of 
 her auburn hair, which was separated by 
 a mother's hand. Near the sofa stood 
 the mother and her little boy. 
 
 Charles wept bitterly, for he dearly 
 loved his sister. She was his only play- 
 mate and companion. Death was to him 
 a sort of mystery, though he had been 
 taught that " mortality must be swal- 
 lowed up in life." He touched her 
 hand, but she did not move ; he kissed 
 her cheek, but it was as cold as marble ; 
 he called her name, but she answered 
 not. He thought of the pleasant hours 
 they had spent together in the garden, 
 and the rambles they had enjoyed in 
 gathering flowers from the fields. As he 
 looked upon his little sister's form, he 
 said to himself, " We shall no more play 
 together," and his heart burst with grief. 
 
 His mother, who stood near him, spoke 
 to him of another life, of a home in
 
 108 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 heaven, where sickness and death cannot 
 enter, to mar the happiness, or separate 
 loving, affectionate, and good children. 
 She told him that Emma was not dead, 
 but living among the pure in the heavenly 
 paradise. Charles wiped the tears from 
 his eyes, for he believed the words of 
 his mother ; and he consoled himself 
 with the reflection that, if he was as good 
 as Emma, he should live with her in 
 heaven. And, turning to his mother, he 
 said, " I shall see little Emma when I 
 die, if I live a very good boy." 
 
 When the hour arrived for the burial 
 of the corpse, the friends and relatives 
 assembled ; and when the prayer was 
 offered, nothing remained but to deposit 
 the little form of Emma in the grave. 
 This was a trying hour. The mother 
 looked once more upon her little daugh- 
 ter, pressed her cold lips, which she had 
 so often nourished, and she wept. Yes, 
 the fountain of her soul gave way.
 
 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 109 
 
 Though her faith was unshaken, and her 
 hope like an anchor to the soul, yet she 
 could not refrain from bursting into a 
 flood of tears. 
 
 Charles sat all the time on the sofa, 
 leaning his head upon his hand, as though 
 he were communing with the departed 
 spirit of his sister. His tears had been 
 dried up by the words of his mother, 
 who had comforted him with the joyous 
 reflection that, "if he was a good boy, 
 he would meet his sister with the pure in 
 heaven." 
 
 As he saw his mother weeping over 
 the coffin, he rose from his seat and went 
 to her, but she took no notice of him for 
 a few moments. He pulled her dress 
 gently, and said, " Mother, I wish to 
 speak to you. I must speak with you, 
 mother." She stooped down to hear 
 what he had to say, and he whispered 
 these words: "Mother, why do you
 
 110 THE LILY AMONG FLOWERS. 
 
 mourn so, when you will see little Emma 
 
 ft 1 1 
 
 again : 
 
 Here, children, is manifested the trust- 
 ing faith of a little child, one who had 
 been taught the ways of true wisdom, 
 and in whose heart had been planted the 
 germ of living faith, in the promise of 
 Jesus, who said to his disciples, "Where 
 I am, there shall ye be also." 
 
 END.