I# JULY WILD FLOWERS. 



Legend of the HU John's Wort. 



"The young maid stole through the cottage 

 door, 



And blushed as she sought the plant of power ; 



Thou 'silver glow-worm, lend me thy light, 



I must gather the mystic St. John's wort to- 

 night — 



The wonderful herb whose leaf must decide 



If the coming year shall make me a bride. 



And the glow-worm came 



With its silvery flame, 



And sparkled and shone 



Through the night of St. John ; 



While it shone on the plant as it bloomed in its 

 pride. 



And soon has the young maid her love knot tied, 



With noiseless tread 



To her chamber she Sped, 



Where the spectral moon her white beams shed. 



Bloom here, bloom here, thou plant of power, 



To deck the young bride in her bridal hour ; 



But it dropped its head, that plant of power, 



And died the mute death of the voiceless flower. 



And a withered wreath on the ground it lay. 



All pale on her bier the young maid lay ; 



And when a year had passed away,^ 



And the glow-worm came 

 With its silvery flame, 

 And sparkled and shone 

 Through the night of St. John ; 



And they closed the cold grave o'er the maid's 



cold clay - 



On the day that was meant for her bridal day." 



