CHAPTER VII. 



THE PAKABLE OF JOTHAM. 



1. I DO not know if my readers were checked, as I wished 

 them to be, at least for a moment, in the close of the last 

 chapter, by my talking of thistles and dandelions chang- 

 ing into seaweed, by gradation of which, doubtless, Mr. 

 Darwin can furnish us with specious and sufficient in- 

 stances. But the two groups will not be contemplated 

 in our Oxford system as in any parental relations what- 

 soever. 



We shall, however, find some very notable relations 

 existing between the two groups of the wild flowers of 

 dry land, which represent, in the widest extent, and the 

 distinctest opposition, the two characters of material ser- 

 viceableness and unserviceableness ; the groups which in 

 our English classification will be easily remembered as 

 those of the Thyme, and the Daisy. 



The one, scented as with incense medicinal and in 

 all gentle and humble ways, useful. The other, scent- 

 less helpless for ministry to the body ; infinitely dear as 

 the bringer of light, ruby, white and gold ; the three col- 

 ours of the Day, with no hue of shade in it. Therefore I 



