68 THE FRIENDSHIP OF NATURE 



restless leaves, it refracts and breaks 

 in countless tints. Romping all down 

 the hill like jolly Indian babes, are 

 troops of black-eyed-Susans, gay in 

 warm yellow gowns. Perched on the 

 road bank, nod blue campanulas, one 

 of a tribe of half-wild things that 

 escaped from gardens to beautify the 

 roads and fields; only they strayed 

 away so many years ago, that they 

 seem completely merged in their sur- 

 roundings and quite to the manor 

 born. 



An herby odour rises from the path, 

 and in a space of less than twenty 

 steps, sweet mint, catnip, wild thyme, 

 yarrow, camomile, and tansy yield a 

 bunch of simples, such as once hung 

 on the rafters of every country garret, 

 ready to be brewed in teas for various 

 aches and pains. History, even in 

 science, still repeats itself, and the 



