THE Rural Wreath; ОР LIFE AMONG THE FLOWERS. EDITED BY LAURA GREENWOOD. "I have made a nosegay of culled flowers, and have brought nothing of REMINISCENCES OF GENIUS. BOSTON: DAYTON AND WENTWORTH, 86 WASHINGTON STREET. 1853. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by NATHANIEL L. DAYTON, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. STEREOTYPED AT THE INTRODUCTION. IN adding one to the many works on flowers, that have, from time to time, been offered to the public, we make no apology. We believe that each, in its turn, has ministered to the widelyspread and still increasing taste for those most beautiful creations of the divine Goodness, which every where surround us, with such forcible, though voiceless, appeals to our notice and love. We trust that this may be the gentle mission of our unpretending work. The selections of prose, we think, may be an acceptable addition to many readers, while they are not wholly inappropriate, as they inculcate the practice of a portion of the floral sentiments, and illustrate their beauty when carried into the every-day duties of real life. 3588 4075 We have endeavored to make the work which we present to you unexceptionable in taste and morals. We cannot claim for it the merit of entire originality, either in language or dress; but we believe that, to those who accept its society to diversify the monotony of a long winter evening to beguile the languid hours of a summer day—or to cheer the tedious convalescence of illness its counsels and companionship will be found most soothing and sweet. L. G. |