I 



t 



NOTES. 



aware of the approach of rain, it closes up, and it does not 

 open at all upon a wet or even cloudy dny. The botanical 

 name is taken from the Greek word afayf\dii}, signifying to 

 lauuh ; because the ancient Greek writers believed it to be 

 a useful medicine in liver complaints, and thus favourable 

 to good and cheerful spirits. Though it may not be found, 

 in our times, to deserve this praise, yet its pleasant aspect 

 and love of sunshine render its name a suitable one." — Wild 

 Flowers, Societt/for Promoting Christian Knowledge. 



Page 39, note p. 



" I have read, in a Latin author, of flowers inscribed 

 with the name of kings ; 



' Die, quibus in terns inscripti nomina regum 

 Nascantur floras.' — Virgil. 



but here is one emblazoned with the marks of the Prince of 

 Life. I read in the inspired writings of apostolic men, who 

 bore about in theu- bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus ; but 

 here is a blooming religioso, that carries apparent memorials 



of the same tremendous and awful event Is Nature 



then actuated by the noble ambition of paying commemora- 

 tive honours to her suffering Lord ? Is she kindly officious to 

 remind forgetful mortals of that miracle of mercy which it is 

 their duty to contemplate, and their happiness to believe ? 

 Or is a sportive imagination my interpreter, and all the sup- 

 posed resemblance no more than the precarious gloss of fancy ? 

 Be it so ; yet even fancy has her merit when she sets forth 

 in such pleasing imagery the crucified Christ. Nor shall I 

 refuse a willing regard to imagination herself, when she em- 



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