12 ENGLISH WILD FLOWEBS. 



senger of mercy: they knew that He who alone can 

 calm the raging of the seas, at whose voice alone the 

 winds and the waves are still, had placed His landmark, 

 had planted His standard, there, and by this sign they 

 wore assured that He had said to the wild waste 01 

 waters, ' Hither shalt thou come, and no farther ! ' " 

 This scrap of knowledge gave them comfort to wait 

 until the dawn came, when they were seen from the 

 cliffs and rescued. 



The teachings of the wild flowers extend further 

 than this. They carry us into the homes of our an 

 cestors. The homely Eush takes us back to the 

 annual rush-bearings, which are still kept up in the 

 north. The fragrant Mint and Pennyroyal fur- 

 nished, with rose-leaves, elder-leaves, and even violets, 

 the cosmetics of old English ladies, who turned the 

 flowers of the Coltsfoot and Cowslip into wine, and 

 had great faith in the virtues of Ground Ivy, Camo- 

 mile, and Wormwood. Agrimony Yarrow, Betony, 

 and Gfoosegrass yet hold a place in the popular 

 medicines of the poor. 



Numerous plants tell us of bygone festivities, of 

 well-dressing, decking of town crosses, of weddings, 

 and of funerals. There was a special floral calendar, 



