BOTANY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 21 



* A *" " 



time a cloud in the sky and the sun shining 

 brightly. In France the peasants train to the 

 sides of their cottages a species of Caiiina, 

 whose open flowers encourage them to proceed 

 to their daily labor, but when closed form a 

 sure presage of approaching rain. 



L. I have heard Uncle John tell a stoiy of a 

 shepherd boy meeting a gentleman with his dogs 

 and gun, going out a hunting, a ad warning him 

 to return home ; but as' there were no signs of 

 rain, the gentleman thought he was foolish, 

 and laughed at him. Before noon, however, it 

 rained in torrents, and the gentleman was forced 

 to return ; on liis way he met his friendly 

 adviser, whom he had treated so rudely, and his 

 curiosity being much excited to find the means 

 the boy possessed of foretelling rain, he offered 

 him a guinea for the information. The boy 

 took the guinea and told him he had noticed 

 that the Shepherd's Weather Glass was not open 

 as he passed it in the morning. 



E. Not only do many flowers seem possessed 

 of an instinct to close on the approach of dan- 

 ger, but there is an equal, if not greater power 

 exhibited in their not opening until the proper 



