224 FORTY DAYS OF ST. SWITIIIN. 



AUG. 11. St. Susanna, virgin martyr, a.d. 295. 

 SS. Tiburtius and Chromatius, 286. 

 St. Grey or Gaugericus, bishop and confessor, 619. 

 St. Egentiiis, abbot, 540. 



Obs. St. Susanna was born of a noble Roman family, and is 

 said to have been niece to Pope Caius. Having made a vow of 

 perpetual virginity, she refused to marry, and was at length found 

 out to be a Christian, and she suffered martyrdom in the 3d age. 

 The famous church which bears her name is served by Cistercian 

 monks : it was once one of the tithes or parishes of Rome. 



St. Tiburtius was ordained subdeacon, and soon after betrayed 

 and condemned by Fabian to many torments. lie was at .length 

 beheaded on the Lavican road, three miles from Rome, where a 

 church was afterwards built. 



China Aster Aster Chinensis fl. 



Jagleaved Rudbeckia Rudheckia lacineata fl. 



Our Lady's Traces Spiranthes spiralis full fl. 



China Asters are of various colours, the most common of which 

 are the white sort, the deep pink, and the dark purple ; there are 

 also pale pink, pale blue, and other intermediate colours. When 

 planted out in large beds, these flowers have a fine effect in the later 

 summer months, and if the autumn be mild they will last till 

 AUhallowlide. 



A curious vapor or vortex of a dark colour, ascending from an 

 Elm Tree, is recorded as having been seen on this day in 1805, be- 

 ing Sunday evening, at Clapton, particulars of which may be found 

 in Forster's Atmospheric Phenomena, 3vo. London 1823. 



In fine dry summers the sky is often strikingly beautiful at this 

 time, particularly with light easterly breezes. The clouds then 

 exhibit every conceivable variety of whimsical figures, and are richly 

 coloured vnlh the most natural tints by the setting sun. By moon- 

 light, too, the appearance of the summer clouds at this time of year 

 is excessively elegant. Beds of mottled or fleecy sunderclouds 

 floating gently along in different altitudes must have attracted 

 almost every body's notice. The beautiful appearance of these 

 clouds on a moonlight evening has been well described by 

 Bloomfield : 



For yet above these wafted clouds are seen, 

 In a remoter sky still more serene. 

 Others detached in ranges through the air. 

 Spotless as snow, and countless as they 're fair, 

 Scattered immensely wide, irom east to west. 

 The beauteous semblance of a flock at rest. 

 Which to the watchful virgin oft proclaim 

 The Mighty Shepherd's everlasting name. 



