446 pfant bore, Tsegei^/, ani. Isijric/. 



Moss that it is "a principal ingredient in the Weapon Salve; but 

 the receipt is, it should be taken from the skull of one who died a 



violent death." The dust from the spore cases of Club-Moss is 



highly inflammable, and is used in fireworks ; it is the Blitz-mehl, 

 or lightning-meal, of the Germans. (See Club-Moss.) 



MOSS ROSE. — The country of the Moss Rose or Moss 

 Provins Rose [Rosa Muscosa) is unknown, but the origin of its 

 mossy vest is thus given by a German writer : — 



" The angel of the flowers one day 



Beneath a Rose-tree sleeping lay ; 



That spirit to whose charge is given 



To bathe young buds in dews from heaven ; 



Awaking from his light repose, 



The angel whispered to the Rose ; 



• O fondest object of my care, 



Still fairest found where all are fair, 

 For the sweet shade thou'st given to me 

 Ask what thou wilt, 'tis granted thee.' 

 'Then' said the Rose, with deepened glow, 



* On me another grace bestow : ' 

 The spirit paused in silent thought 



What grace was there that flower had not ? 

 'Twas but a moment : o'er the Rose 

 A veil of Moss the angel throws, 

 And robed in Nature's simplest weed, 

 Could then a flower that Rose exceed ? " 



The Moss Rose is one of the flowers specially plucked at the fall of 

 the dew on Midsummer Eve for the purposes of love divination. 

 This rite of rustic maidens is fully described in the poem of ' The 

 Cottage Girl': — 



" The Moss Rose that, at fall of dew, 



Ere eve its duskier curtain drew. 



Was freshly gathered from its stem, 



She values as the ruby gem ; 



And, guarded from the piercing air, 



With all an anxious lover's care, 



She bids it, for her shepherd's sake. 



Await the New Year's frolic wake : 



When, faded, in its altered hue 



She reads — the rustic is untrue ! 



But if its leaves the crimson paint. 



Her sick'ning hopes no longer faint ; 



The Rose upon her bosom worn, 



She meets him at the peep of morn." 



MOTHERWORT.— According to Parkinson, the Mother- 

 wort {Leonurus Cardiaca) was so called from its being " of wonderful 

 helpe to women in the risings of the mother; " its name of Cardiaca 

 was given because the herb was formerly noted for curing not 



only heartburn but the mental disorder known as heart-ache. 



In Japan, the Motherwort is in great estimation. In bygone times 

 it is related that to the north of the province of Nanyo-no-rekken, 

 there was a village situated near a hill covered with Motherwort. 



