Canadian Wild Flowers

Canadian Wild Flowers

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Title: Canadian Wild Flowers
Author: Helen M. Johnson
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CANADIAN WILD FLOWERS:

SELECTIONS FROM THE WRITINGS OF
MISS HELEN M. JOHNSON,
OF MAGOG, P.Q., CANADA
WITH A SKETCH OF HER LIFE

BY REV. J. M. ORROCK

Good thoughts spring from the human mind Like flowers out the
ground: Attractive, fragrant, beautiful,-- To make our joys abound

PREFACE.
An observance of the hand of God in his providences, as well as of his
Spirit in the written Word and in the human heart, has led to the
publication of this book. Though more than twenty years hare passed
since Miss JOHNSON died, her name is like "an ointment poured
forth." Many who never knew her personally seem to know her well
from her poetic writings: for "as fragrance to the sense of smell, music
to the ear, or beauty to the eye, so is poetry to the sensibilities of the
heart,--it ministers to a want of our intellectual nature; this is the secret
of its power and the pledge of its perpetuity." A 16mo volume of her
"Poems" was published in Boston, in 1855, but has long been out of
print. In 1864 the Rev. E. H. Dewart published in Montreal a work
entitled "Selections from Canadian Poets," in which ten of her poems
were inserted and a very appreciative notice of her given. She also

wrote for several papers, so that in various ways her thoughts have been
widely disseminated. A desire has often been expressed to have them
collected into one volume; but to have all thus republished would not
be best. I have therefore attempted only what the title indicates --to
make _selections from her writings_; and conclude to send them forth
under a name which she herself chose at a time when she had thoughts
of getting out a book. Let critics remember that they claim to be only
"_Canadian wild flowers_"; yet we feel sure that some of them, for
beauty of form and fragrance of truth, will not unfavorably compare
with some of the cultivated productions of our classic poets. Miss
JOHNSON was better known by her poetry than by her prose writings,
yet in the latter are found so many grand thoughts that I have copied
from them freely. The biographical sketch, it is hoped, will add interest
to the book, especially as so many of her diary notes have been
interwoven. Some of her pieces are here printed for the first time. The
prize poem on "The Surrender of Quebec" is given in full. In the
Preface to her "Poems" she said: "I have been cheered and encouraged
by the thought that perhaps through my instrumentality the heart of
some humble believer might be comforted, and some wretched
wanderer, weary of the vanities of earth, be directed to the only source
of life and happiness. Should such be the case, the brightest hopes of
the authoress will be fulfilled, and she herself be amply compensated
for her care and labor." With a sincere desire to aid in the direction thus
indicated this little work is now sent forth.
J.M.O. Brookline, Mass., June 22, 1884.

CONTENTS.
LIFE-SKETCH:
Birth-place--The Forest (a poem)--Conviction of sin--Baptism and
Resolutions--Experience--Diary notes in verse--Sufferings--Last
poem-- The One Name and The Adieu (poetry)--Death
RURAL SCENES:
The Walk in June.
An Evening Meditation.
Nature's Resurrection.
The Bird's Nest.
Gather Violets.

To a Dandelion.
To a