VKRVAIX. 1^9 



Altlioiigh so many ages have passed away since 

 the Druids and their pretended spells have been 

 aboHshed, yet we frequently meet with hngering 

 sparks of their imagined hght amongst the vulgar, 

 who upon every occasion chng to superstition as 

 eagerly as the intimidated infant clings to the breast 

 of a fond mother. 



Madame de Latour tells us that the shepherds 

 in the northern provinces of France still continue 

 to gather the Vervain under different phases of the 

 moon, using certain mysterious ejaculations known 

 only to themselves, whilst in the act of collecting 

 this herb, by whose assistance they attempt to cure 

 not only their fellow-servants, but their masters also, 

 of various complaints, and they profess to charm 

 both the flocks and the rural belles with this plant. 



The Germans to this day present a hat of Ver- 

 vain to the new-married bride, as if to put her 

 under the protection of Venus Victorious, which is 

 evidently the remains of ancient customs. 



Vervain is now very properly made the emblem 

 of superstition. 



The common Vervain ojficinalis , is a native of 

 our soil, and is principally found by road sides, in 

 dry sunny pastures and waste places about villages. 

 Mr. Miller remarks, that although Vervain is very 

 common, yet it is never found above a quarter of a 

 mile from a house, which has occasioned its being 



