The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-06-21

f1owcr-bells In their swinging CT en-
belfries. and trailing long wells of cling
ing vines and gray crcepors over tho
gray stone walls and struggling fences
and looping them up in festoons from
porches and tcellises. All these things
are made after n pattern set by tho
Great Master in that far OF time when
the world began, and there has not
been tho slightest deviation since and
never any attempts at improvement.
Every spring-time for thousands OF
years the whole army of Natures forces
have gone to work to weave the oak,
the maple and the birch leaves in thu
same old fashion; to paint tho violets
and the apemones in the same hues and
hang thd1catkins and the ilowcr-bells
in the same old way. The fashions OF
tho world may change with every
moon, but the patterns that Nature
wenvcs. never. And there Is no need
Of change 1.-THE fashions are old the
work itself is ever new and beautiful.
We welcome tho rose no less gladly boz
cause its petals are cut IN the samo
style as In every year rs long rs we
can remember, and we should never
think Of complaining because the cups
Of the lilies are OF tho very same snaps
that they were in tho days when we
were Young. think no ono ever feels
put out because tho lady-slippers arc
exactly like those we used to see years
ago. We are sure, even without count
ing, that the oak-leaf has the Same
number Of notches in Its border that
1t had when one OF them trcmblcd above
tho head Of the patriarch Jacob when
he was under the oaks by Shechcm, and
the daisy has the same number Of petals,
neither more nor less, that, IL had when
Wordsworth plucked one from IN
English meadow years ago, and called
II then "thc poets darling" Nature
has secret hero that she never yet has
yielded up: the colors and forms which
she uses never grow old-fRshioned nor
lose their power to charm.
When you visit picture-gallery or a
museum Of art you sec rows Of paint
ings on all manner Of subjects, some OF
them woodland scenes, and landscapes
with fields and gardens in view, many
OF them very beautiful, considered AS
the work Of human hands. Many OF
the very finest artists or picture makers
lived years and years ago, and none
since have been able to excel them.
They are called the Old Masters, and
painters in our day study thor works
and often copy them.
But In Natures picture gallery every
work Is u master piece. Every rose,
every bunch Of mignonette, every APP
ple-blossom Is perfect after its kind,
and beyond all possibility OF exact imi-
tation. The tiniest little flower that
hides in the grass or In the lonely forest
glade, the humblest little picture in the
gallery, has n waxen wilderness and a
delicate flush upon its petals that would
battle the skill Of the greatest human
artist that ever lived.
There Is another quality Of the great
Creators flower pictures that makes
them vastly superior TO anything we
find In the handiwork Of man. They
are not only more beautiful to the eye,
but they have one charm that our art
lists never attempt to add to their work.
and that is an exquisite perfume. Arti-
fetal flowers, such as ladies wear, are
often very pretty, but the finest and
costliest OF them are greatly inferior to
real flowers, though OF the commonest
kind, because tho former have not the
truest, deepest beauty nor the delightful
fragrance. Who would think Of giving
artificial flowers to the poor sick child in
that bare, cherries room within the dry.
hot walls OF it's city homer am sure
one real rosebud, or a handful OF dali
sizes from a country roadside, would be
far more welcome to the longing eyes
than all the flowers Of wax and wire that
were ever made. There is no simple
gift more pleasing to those who are shut
out from communion with Natures own
self than bunch OF real flowers. They
seem to have voice Of love and SYM
pathy for poor, lonely hearts, and they
tell in their own way of the wisdom and
goodness Of God who watches over and
cares for everything.
The hand that clothes the trees. and
paints the flowers, and does all things
that are done in the world Of Nature, is
the hand OF our Heavenly Father. He
made the little things Of earth as we'll
as the great things; the tiny flowers as
well as the mighty mountains: What
lessons of love and humility do these
works Of Nature teach us when we study
them in spirit Of rcvcrcnt recognition
a.. til =, - E<.d " IN