WHITE HEATHER. 



Heather is made the emblem of solitude in the 

 language of flowers; and thus when the fond swain 

 presents his mistress with a bouquet of heath and 

 pansies, she understands his heart would be at ease if 

 his solitude were blessed by her society. Other flowers 

 carry the expresssion "Think of me in solitude," while 

 a hundred other woeful speeches are thus silently told. 



White Heather 



"There is no more lovely plant than the White Heather." 

 George Sand. 



But it is about the White Heather that sentiment 

 most fondly lingers, and to which ding the most en- 

 trancing traditions and legends. 



A writer in "All the Year Round" devotes the 

 following sketch to the tender virtues of this charming 

 little plant : "In the Highlands of Scotland, where the 

 White Heather is found at exceedingly rare intervals, 

 it is looked upon as a bringer of luck, and in some parts 

 of Scotland she would be thought a rash bride who 

 went to church without it. There is a saying, 'Happy 

 is the married life of her who wears the White Heather 

 at her wedding.' Amongst those who go out early 

 upon the hills to look for White Heather the saying is 

 common, 'Who finds, keeps.' The searchers are many, 

 but few find it, even when it is wanted to grace a bridal 

 bouquet. There is a health, though, in the pursuit, so 

 that the search itself is lucky, and it is so good-natured 

 as to be a deceptive plant. A pale sprig here and there 

 constantly deceives tourists on the hunt for it into think- 

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