GRASSES 
known by such expressive names as Redtop, Blue Joint, 
Herd-grass, Beaver Meadow Grass, Wild Oats, Wild 
Barley, Foxtail, Squirreltail, Poverty Grass, Cock’s-foot, 
Couch or Spear Grass, Millet, with many others, named or 
unnamed, that are peculiar to certain localities, in open 
fields, in the shade of the forest, the thicket, the banks of 
creeks, in water, or on dry waste lands. There is no spot 
but has some grass, or rush, or sedge, or reed; they spring 
up by the water-courses, on the dry parched sands of desert 
places, and in our path by the wayside; thus we find this 
lowly herb, under some distinguishing form, wherever we 
go. Is it not intended as a silent monitor to remind us of 
the frailty of our earthly being, by bringing back to us the 
words of the Psalmist: “ As for man, his days are as grass; 
as a flower of the field so he flourisheth: for the wind passeth 
over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it 
no more.”—Psalms ciii. 
How often in the inspired words do we find similar 
allusions made to the grass in language alike practical and 
touching. 
“ The voice said, Cry! And he said, What shall I cry? 
“ All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the 
flower of the field: 
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of 
our God shall stand forever.”—Isaiah xl. 6-8. 
Thus the grass that we tread beneath our feet, as well as 
the fairest flower, has alike a significance and a teaching to 
lead us up to the throne of Him who makes the grandeur of 
the heavens above and the lowliest plant on earth to speak 
to us of His goodness, His wisdom and His fatherly care for 
all. Let me close with the lesson of faith that Christ the 
Lord himself gave to His disciples: “If God so clothe the 
grass of the field, . . . . shall He not much more clothe 
you, O ye of little faith?” 
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