Thy pretty blossoms and dark green leaves attract us, but thy roughness displeases us, and we reject thee from our bouquets. Ah! thou wouldst teach us that an agreeable appearance never can be long pleasing, without gentleness of manners and kindness of heart.
Unknown and unnoticed, the Genista
bloomed, shedding freshness and beauty over the wild
free heath, until at length, Fulk of Anjou adopted it as
his device, and as such transmitted it to his children.
Since that time, the Genista has given its name to a
race of kings. It has mingled with the plumes of the
brave Cœur de Lion, and graced the helmet of the
haughty conqueror of Wales.
But, alas! far from its own wild mountain air it lost
its freshness and its beauty; and the sweet flower which
bloomed so luxuriantly on its native heath faded and
died in the helmet of a king.
Thus it is that royalty does not always confer happiness;
and the freshness of truth and simplicity is seldom
known to the wearer of a crown.
Perhaps nothing in the realm of flowers, bears more the mark of an Almighty hand, than the Pelargoniums, or Geraniums, as they are popularly called. Their beautiful forms, the delicacy, and above all, the almost endless variety of their colours, proclaim the glory of that creative Power whose resources are infinite.
The Scarlet Geranium is gay and brilliant, but scentless and without variety. It seems typical of those who too well satisfied with the graces of their persons, neglect to cultivate their minds and hearts.
Heedless of the bright colours of its sisters, the White Geranium clothes itself in robes of snowy beauty, like devotion, which, too holy for earth, and undazzled by all that earth can offer, raises the heart in grateful love to its Creator.
This simple, unpretending flower, which blooms quietly among its gay companions, though surpassing them all in sweetness, brings vividly before us the image of our Blessed Lady, who, though the most privileged, was the most meek and gentle among the daughters of Israel.
Eloquence is as a golden sceptre, whose sovereignty
none can dispute; it is a chain that binds our souls
with a resistless spell; and history tells of men who
ruled multitudes by the power and eloquence of their
words.
But it is to the Christian orators that we must look
for the most exalted kind of eloquence; for Christianity
reveals those beautiful and holy truths which alone
should inspire true genius.
In the whole vegetable kingdom, there is nothing so
useful, so necessary as Grass. Yet we pass it by unnoticed,
and turn to admire the gay flowers that bloom
around.
Thus too often are amiable qualities of the mind
and heart overlooked, while homage is paid to the more
dazzling but less solid charms of personal beauty, or a
pleasing address.
