This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1844 Excerpt: ... HUMILITY. Humility, the fairest, loveliest flower That grew in Paradise, and the first that died, Has rarely flourished since on mortal soil. It is so frail, so delicate a thing, Tis gone, if it but look upon itself: And she who ventures to believe it hers, Proves by that single thought she has it not. In early spring--in that animated month, when all things return to life, but that which returns to it never; when all revives and lives again, and blossoms again, and enjoys again, except that which blooms but once, and fades but once, and returns to its delights no more; when every thing is gay, but the heart whose wintry blighting seems but the sadder, amid the budding of surrounding joy:--in the morning of such a spring, I was walking by the side of a stream. A thousand thousand flowers were on its banks, and the brightest of sunbeams on its waters. Attracted by some blossoms half hidden in the osiers, many a time I stooped in eager anticipation of finding something new: or, deceived by distance, ventured the unsteady footing of the bank, to reach what seemed an unknown plant. When attained, they proved no other than the flowers of every meadow, and of every spring, a thousand times gathered and despised. They could blow again, and be beautiful again; but they could not bring again the.eager animation with which curiosity examined them at first, or the delight with which the eye of taste dwelt first upon their charms. No--it is this impossibility of renewing foregone pleasures, this necessity of proceeding, that makes the circle of the returning year so dissonant sometimes to the feelings of humanity, when long and deeply tried, and experienced like him of old, in the insufficiency of this world"s pleasures and pursuits. Thus was I thinking, when interrupt...