A BUNCH OF HERBS 



flowers of whiteweed are used by the kingbird and 

 cedar-bird. 



Yet it is pleasant to remember that, in our cli- 

 mate, there are no weeds so persistent and lasting 

 and universal as grass. Grass is the natural cover- 

 ing 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 com- 

 mon sense is more universal, and crowds 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 

 humbly at its foot and accept what comes ; in all 

 cases they make the most of their opportunities. 



