70 THE FLOWERS

upon the garland I should like to wear, though
I did not suppose it would have been left
for me.”

“ Indeed, my Aimée,” I answered, “ you
must be a little more explicit before I can
understand you: please to explain yourself.
Of what things did my discourse lead you to
think, and how was what I said connected with
what your father had taught. you, and with
the hymn you had learned? Please to explain
all these matters to me.”

“ You compared us, sir,” replied the little
girl, “ to so many flowers growing in a garden;
and what my dear papa taught me when I was
a little child was this, that the church of God
in this world is compared in the Bible to
a garden, in which grow all sorts of beautiful
plants and flowers; he taught me the very
verses, and I have not forgotten them.”

“ Repeat them, if you please, my dear child,”
I said ; for, although I confessed it not, I knew
so little of Scripture as to be utterly ig-
norant of that beautiful passage to which the
child alluded. She obeyed, and repeated what
follows.

“ A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse ;
a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. Thy