DARNEL. 



DARNEL {Lolium temulentum). — VICE. 



Darnel is the emblem of Vice, because in warm climates 

 it, together with the barren oat, grows so thickly in the 

 fields as to choke good wheat. Its stem much resembles 

 that of wheat, whence there is great difficulty in eradicating 

 it, in an early stage of growth, without injuring the good 

 corn. On this account, as well as for other reasons, it is 

 thought that the word tares in a well-known parable should 

 be Darnel, as giving a more accurate meaning. Shelley 

 names it among offensive vegetation, — 



" — the mandrakes, and toadstools, and docks, and Darnels, 

 Rose like the dead from their buried charnels." 



DEAD LEAVES. — Melancholy. Sadness. 



" The Dead Leaves strew the forest walk. 

 And withered are the pale wild-flowers ; 

 The frost hangs blackening on the stalk, 



The dewdrops fall in frozen showers." — Brainard. 



Near the end of September we have abundant indica- 

 tions of the approach of winter. The trees have displayed 

 their flowers; flowers have produced their fruit; the fruit, 

 ripened by the summer's sun, has been gathered, and con- 

 sumed, or stored up, or preserved for use in winter. Now 

 the thick vapours are condensed upon our trees, and their 

 leaves, once so vividly green, become various in hue, tawny, 



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