Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1860-10-13
Written for the Herald
FLOWERS.

w nc does rot love flowers Is there
an individual in whose mind nature has dis
played one brilliant Gift, who does not love
flowers! Who delights not in early sprina
to seek the wood and field to watch the
progress Of the wild, bright flowers and IN
hale their rich perfume! Who seeks 9hot
at early dawn the garden walk where ma
ture and art united nave brought to periec
ton their richest and sweetest flowers -
Who is not grateful at sultry noon for the
lcool, sweet retreat, the honey-suckle bower
Who delights not in the cultivation Of
flowers? Whose hand too delicate to
WELD the spade in up-rooting every nox-
ious weed which would hinder the growth
of lovely flower? Whose hand would
not assist the bright, sweet pea to Irvine its
tendrils among its trellis? Who loves not
to watch the honeysuckle. as she climbs
along the margin Of the window and winds
around the columns Of the cottage porch
How drear would earth appear should
spring fal to deck her with flowers, and
how would the poets song cease to charm,
We're not flowers one Of his sweet themes
We compare the young, fair brow to the
lily; the bright, glowing check to the rose;
the soft blue eye to the violet; the sweet
voice to tie zephyr passing through flow
ers.
TO day we deck the young bride with
the blossom Of the orange and wreathe Its
buds among her siIken trssses. To-mor-
row we place around the marble form Of
youth and manhood the rosemary the
pansy anu the lily, and DER the infant form
in the narrow casket we strew the myrtle
and tue violet, and weave chaplet ofwid
flowers for its little brow. and place in its
hand the snowdrop and they become en-
blems OF our affections, Of pleasures rernem-
bered, Of joys departed. The language 81
flowers is too pure for the corrupt heart.
but when thee Of the good is bent 70 its
whisperings, it breathes its sweetest truths.
In whose mind are not flowers associated
with pure and tender sentiment? Who
can look upon the little snowdrop hanging
upon its tender stalk, nestled III its bed ii
green taper leaves without admiring lis
Ioveliness aud associating it with the return
Of spring when we can range the green
field and rest beside the murmuring brook
without fear of winters chilling blasts. -
Flowers are emblems Of earthly pleasures.
How brief their beauty, how soon does
their sweetness perish! With the exquis-
lite beauty Of the rose bearing a thorn, they
seem a Tningling of pleasure and pain, fit
emblem Of the joys and sorrows of life.
There is a sacredness in flowers, especially
those found around the tomb. Who could
mutilate the smallest f1weret around the
precious dead Who could mar the little
snowdrop beside the infant tomb? Whose
hand could pluck the rose from youths Or
manhood's grave, or unwreath from the
dark cypress or mournful yew, the wild
honeysuckle? Who would not tread light
" the graveled walk and gather up the
flowing mantle that It's folds brush not the
tender myrtle? Who would allow a care
less foot 70 wound or crush the oyerhang
inc lily or violet, because he who cares for
the mournerand the dead cares for the flow
ers, for the God who made the stars even in
the flowers is nigh. S. S.