The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-01-22
THE INFLUENCE OF FLOWERS.
rom the Agricultural Society Cleaner.

From the Agricultural Society Cleaner
There is perhaps no pleasure so cheap.
so within the reach of all, as that afford
cd by flowers, their care and culture.
In every heart there is an innate love of
the beautiful, which will reveal itself,
even in the homes of the forest.
In an afternoon ride, 4 short time ago,
noticed low frame house, 4 mere
hovcl in fact, with the most unpleasant,
surroundings, yet, in front OF the door.
4 clean path was swept, and on either
side OF the step stood box in which
grew portulaccas, petunias and single
geranium. The few simple flowers told
story of cramped and unsatisficd life
and longing for something higher and
better.
How many ovcr-worked mothers re-
alize the influence of surroundings on
their children? How many busy farm
ers fail in their duties rs fathers 10 make
farm life agreeable to their sons ? Every
child ought to be happy, for during
childhood impressions are formed that
nothingcan oblicrate. 4 happy home,
with pleasant and tasteful surroundings.
trees and flowers and trailing vines, and
within doors, books and pictures, will
have more influence on the future life
of child than any amount of mere
talking. Whatever the after life may
be, the memory OF childhood's home
will linger. Though farmers homes are
becoming, year by year, more what they
should be, more like the ideal home.
filled, not alone with the mere nccesSa-
ries OF life, but goodly share of its
comforts and Injuries rs we'll, vet there
are still too many parents, good, honest,
well-meaning people, SO busy trying to
make money that they have no time to
sympathize with their children, TO
answer their questions, or to notice or
take pride in their inventions and i'm.
provised playthings. Yet these same
parents love their children and believe
they are doing their duty; stinting
themselves, foregoing every pleasure
during their prime, that their children
may never know struggle with power
ty. II never occurs TO them that they
are robbing their children of their due,
4 pleasant home now, while they are
planning for the future, and are sur
prised when their ungratcful sons grow
tired Of the never finished work and
seek employment elsewhere.
a thoughtful person cannot fail to OBJ
serve the influence of flowers on chill
drcn. ! knew little girl, 4 shy, sensi-
tive child, whose love for flowers made
her regard them as almost human. She
was delicate child and her wise mother
let her live out Of doors rs much rs pos
sible. As soon as she could dig a hole
with rusty case knife she had her
flower bed where she planted what she
chose. Aside from the benefit of out
of-doors exercise, think you not she
grew morally rs well rs ply sicaily, for
Is there not something refining and
purifying in flowers? Who could think
evil while bending over sweet mignon-
cite? Who could think vulgar or com
mon-place thoughts while looking at 4
pure white lily or breathing the odor of
the tuberose or heliotrope Who could
be melancholy over bed of bright
faced pansies or indulge in anger or
malice in the presence OF the innocent
lily Of the valley?
ana
seldom forget kindness done them,
and there is something in flowers that
calls up old memories rs nothing else
can. l never see bed OF thyme but |
think of the dear sweet-faced grand
mother whose death was the first grief
my childish heart knew. Again hear
her gentle voice in sympathy with my
troubles or rejoicing in my JOY. A bed
OF thyme grew in her garden by the
grape arbor, and it always calls up a
Hood ofmemories. remember the low
kitchen with its wide fireplace, and the
narrow door with its four panes of glass,
and the narrow steps leading TO the sit
ting room. see the old scttee, As If
but yesterday ! lolled on its soft, chintz.
covered cushion, while grandmother
talked to me As only she could talk.
Then the cactus, that gaudy and un- |
romantic flower, recalls another dear old |
lady who loved children and was kind |
to all living creatures. The cactus was |
one that captured my childish fancy and |
/ counted its buds every time saw il.
Other flowers have their associations
Scarcely one but recalls some memory.
i remember the blush roses that grew in |
our backyard, and how my teacher
smiled and looked pleased when took |
her the first that opened.
Flowers more than repay all the care
bestowed upon them. II seems like a |
labor Of love. IL IS such a pleasure TO
see them grow and bloom.
What mother would feel her time
wasted il she knew that in the future the |
sight Of certain flowers would cause her
son to remember her loving care, her
gentle teachings, her christian example,
at time, perhaps, when most needed. |
Let us then not neglect these mute
teachers, but regarding them as one Of
the greatest blessings bestowed by an
All-wise Creator, devote some Of our
spare moments to their culture, resting
assured that Others, as well as ourselves, |
will reap benefit therefrom.
Let ms rejoice TO see
"Ia ali places, then,
And In all seasons,