Large paper ed. revised The wild flowers of England; or, Favourite field flowers popularly described

we derive amusement from them, we may also gain instruction! What the seasons and flowers are to teach us, we may know from the following fragment:

"The seasons came and went, and went and came,
To teach men gratitude; and, as they passed,
Gave warning of the lapse of time, that else
Had stolen unheeded by. The gentle flowers,
Retired and stooping o'er the wilderness,
Talked of humility, and peace, and love.
The dews came down unseen at eventide,
And silently their bounties shed, to teach
Mankind unostentatious charity.
With arm in arm the forest rose on high,
And lesson gave of brotherly regard.
And on the rugged mountain brow exposed,
Bearing the blast alone, the ancient oak
Stood, lifting high his mighty arm, and still

To courage in distress exhorted loud.

The flocks, the herds, the birds, the streams, the breeze,

Attuned the heart to melody and love.

Mercy stood in the cloud, with eye that wept

Essential love; and from her glorious bow,

Bending to kiss the earth in token of peace,
With her own lips, her gracious lips, which God
Of sweetest accents made, she whispered still,
She whispered to revenge, Forgive, forgive !
The sun rejoicing round the earth, announced
Daily the wisdom, power, and love of God.
The moon awoke, and from her maiden face
Shedding her cloudy locks, looked meekly forth,
And with her virgin stars walked in the heavens,
Walked nightly there, conversing as she walked,
Of purity, and holiness, and God.

In dreams and visions, sleep instructed much;
Day uttered speech to day, and night to night
Taught knowledge. Silence had a tongue; the grave,
The darkness and the lonely waste, had each
A tongue, that ever said, Man, think of God!
Think of thyself! think of Eternity!"

POLLOK.