THERE are studies which have a tendency to deaden the feelings; but by fixing the mind on living objects, in which wisdom and goodness are strikingly exhibited, and by raising it through them to the Creator, in whom centre all perfection and happiness, the study of natural objects excites a continual train of ideas, most friendly to whatever is pure, benevolent, and grateful. And next to the devout exercises of religion, perhaps nothing will more completely remove sadness and disquietude than the silent eloquence of flowers, and the vocal music of birds.

THE NATURALIST'S POETICAL COMPANION.

OH Nature! lovely Nature! thou canst give
Delight thyself a thousand ways, and lend
To every object charms.

BIDLAKE.

MOUNTAIN CRANE'S-BILL.

FLOWERS! flowers! bright merry-faced flowers! I'll bless ye in joyous or sadden'd hours;

I love ye dearly,

Ye look so cheerly.

In Summer, Autumn, Winter, or Spring.
A flower is to me the loveliest thing

That hath its birth

:

On this chequer'd earth :

Oh! who will not chorus the lay I sing!

Flowers! flowers! who loveth them not?
Who hath his childhood's sports forgot?
When daisies white

And kingcups bright,

And snowdrops, cowslips, and daffodills
Lured us to meadows, and woods, and rills;
And we wander'd on,

Till a wreath was won

Of the heather-bells crowning the far-off hills!

MISS TWAMLEY.

GOD is known by his power; that power is known by his works; and how shall we approach to estimate Him unless we examine those works ? It is not by assenting carelessly to the term, “ allpowerful," that we shall learn to feel what that power is; it is not by barely admitting Him to be the cause of all things, that we shall acquire a knowledge of Him; that only knowledge which he has permitted us to acquire in our present condition.

MACCULLOCH.

WHOM Nature's works can charm, with God

himself

Hold converse, grow familiar day by day
With His conceptions, act upon His plan,
And form to His the relish of their souls.

AKENSIDE.

PROLIFEROUS FEATHER MOSS.

WHILST all else is drear,

Mosses in verdant vest appear,

And last-born children of the year,

'Mid storms and glooms their blossoms rear, Gladdening the weary way.

Though banish'd from the cultured bed,
The sterile ground the mosses spread,
And lo! a verdant lawn you tread.
The marsh appears transform'd to mead,
And smiles with aspect gay.

Thus,

not e'en adverse hour can bend,

Nor all the snares which pomp attend,

Nor change, nor chance, nor aught can rend

The chains which bind a faithful friend,

Or quench affection's ray!

LE BOUQUET DES SOUVENIRS.

How good is God to us! What should we think of a friend who had furnished us with a magnificent house and all that was needed, and then coming in to see that all had been provided according to his wishes, should be hurt to find that no scents had been placed in the rooms? Yet so has God dealt with us? Surely flowers are the smiles of His goodness!

WILBERFORCE.

OUR outward life requires them not,
Then wherefore had they birth?
To minister delight to man,

To beautify the earth;

To comfort man, to whisper hope
Whene'er his faith is dim;

For who so careth for the flowers,

Will much more care for him!

MRS. HOWITT.