A BUNCH OF HERBS. 235 



humming-bird's nest, and the flowers of whiteweed 

 are used by the kingbird and cedar-bird. 



Yet it is pleasant to remember that, in our climate, 

 there are no weeds so persistent and lasting and uni- 

 versal as grass. Grass is the natural covering of the 

 fields. There are but four weeds that I know of 

 milkweed, live-forever, Canada thistle, and toad-flax 

 that it will not run out in a good soil. We crop it 

 and mow it year after year ; and yet, if the season 

 favors, it is sure to come again. Fields that have 

 never known the plow, and never been seeded by 

 man, are yet covered with grass. And in human 

 nature, too, weeds are by no means in the ascendant, 

 troublesome as they are. The good green grass of 

 love and truthfulness and common sense are more 

 universal, and crowd the idle weeds to the wall. 



But weeds have this virtue : they are not easily 

 discouraged ; they never lose heart entirely ; they 

 die game. If they cannot have the best, they will 

 take up with the poorest; if fortune is unkind to 

 them to-day, they hope for better luck to-morrow ; if 

 they cannot lord it over a corn-hill, they will sit hum- 

 bly at its foot and accept what comes ; in all cases 

 they make th% most of their opportunities. 



