Wherever we turn our eyes, we behold wonders; "if we go up is heaven, God is there;" "the firmament showeth forth his handy. work;" if we contemplate the earth on which we are placed, with its varied tribes of beings, and the provision made for their comfort and subsistence, we realize, that it is indeed GOD, "who maketh the grass to grow on the mountains, and herbs for the use of man."

The universe, how vast! exceeding far

The bounds of human thought; millions of suns,
With their attendant worlds moving around
Some common centre, gravitation strange!
Beyond the power of finite minds to scan!
Can HE, who in the highest heav'n sublime,
Enthron'd in glory, guides these mighty orbs-
Can He behold this little spot of earth,
Lost midst the grandeur of the heav'nly host:
Can God bestow one thought on fall'n man?

Turn, child of ignorance and narrow views,
Thy wilder'd sight from off these dazzling scenes;
Turn to thy earth, and trace the wonders there.
Who pencils, with variegated hues,

The lowly flower that decks the rippling stream,
Or gorgeously attires the lily race?

Who with attentive care, each year provides
A germ to renovate the fading plant

And gives soft show'rs and vivifying warmth.
Kindling within the embryo inert

The little spark of life, unseen by all,

Save him who gave it, and whose care preserved ?
Who teaches, when this principle of life,

Thus animated, swells the germ within,

And bursts its tomb, rising to light and air-
Who teaches root and stem to find their place,

Each one to seek its proper element?

Who gilds the insect's wings, and leads it forth
To feast on sweets and bask in sunny ray?

None can the life of plant or insect give,

Save God alone;-He rules and watches all;
Scorns not the least of all His works; much less
Man, made in his image, destin'd to exist

When e'en yon brilliant worlds shall cease to be.
Then how should man, rejoicing in his GOD
Delight in his perfections, shadow'd forth
In every little flow'r and blade of grass!
Each opening bud, and care-perfected seed,
Is as a page, where we may read of God.

VI. SYMBOLICAL LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS.

VII. ALPHABETICAL INDEX.

VIII. COMMON NAMES OF PLANTS

SECTION I.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE HABITS OF PLANTS

WITH EIGHT ENGRAVINGS.

THE following Wood Engravings, copied from the elegant work of C. F. Brisseau Mirbel, entitled "Elemens de Botanique," are added to this volume, in order to exercise the pupil in the study of the habits of plants. The author above alluded to, thus remarks, [we give a translation of his words :]

"In order to learn any part of Natural History, the student must see much, and exercise himself that he may see clearly; this demands zeal and perseverance. A thousand characters offer themselves to the eye of the naturalist, which are unseen by others; this is, because these characters become striking only by comparison, and the art of comparison supposes knowledge already acquired. In placing before the eye of the pupil figures representing the most striking characters of objects, we take the surest method of helping him forward. We cannot vary too much the forms we offer him.

"The following designs present examples of the plants of all climates, and such as are found in all classes. The minute and extended analyses which will be found in the explanations of some of these plants, are made for the benefit of those pupils who love to push their investigations beyond the mere elements of science; such will soon learn to make observations for themselves, and to test those of others by a comparison with nature.

"The relative size of the different plants represented, is preserved as far as possible, but it was in many cases impossible to give an accurate idea of this, in grouping the figures."

I Areca oleracea. 2 Cactus peruvianus. 3 Dracæna draco. 4 Musa paradisiaca. 5 Cac

tus opuntia 6 Typha latifolia. 7 Cactus melocactus.