! as o'er an altar, shedding
On Milton's page soft light from coloured urns--
They are the links man's heart to nature wedding,
When to her breast the prodigal returns.

"They are from lone, wild places--forests, dingles,
Fresh banks of many a low-voiced hidden stream;
Where the sweet star of eve looks down and mingles
Faint lustre with the water-lily's gleam."
MRS. HEMANS.

This unassuming pretty flower has a salver-shaped corolla; but in
modelling it, I advise its being formed of five petals. Prepare the
latter in double white wax, colour them upon both sides with my lemon
powder (this is a most beautiful preparation), taking the precaution not
to carry the same to the end, or it would prevent adhesion of the wax.
With a small sable brush, form a triangular spot of deep yellow at the
lower end of the broad part of the petal. Attach to the end of a
second-size wire a piece of lemon wax, extending the same half an inch
down the stem; this is to form a foundation: the point is to be neatly
moulded, and to be seen peeping, as it were, from the centre of the
flower. The petals are curled in the following manner;--rest the petal
in the palm of the left hand, placing the side that has the triangular
spot downwards, press the third finger of the right hand in the centre,
and then upon the opposite side strongly indent with the point of the
pin. Place the five petals thus prepared round the stem previously
formed, press the petals neatly together, flattening them down a little
to give the appearance of being formed in one piece. The calyx is cut in
very light green wax, it is in one piece, vandyked at the top into five
points; in each point press the pin, and attach it afterwards round the
neck or tube of the flower. Wash the calyx with a weak solution of gum
water, using for the purpose a sable brush. Sprinkle it over, while
moist, with a little of my prepared down. The stem should look
transparent, consequently the wire must be covered with very light green
or lemon wax. For the leaf, see my general instructions upon foliage.

[Illustration]

VIOLET.

(VIOLA ODORATA.) _Modesty._

"As the dew that moistens the rose at dawn,
Gives the VIOLET many a tear,
So bright in the morning of life she shone,
That her fragrance still lives while her spirit is gone,
Embalming her memory here."