FLORA OF FORFARSHIRE. 
129 
Not uncommon in marshy and watery places, and gene- 
rally esteemed for the delicacy and beauty of its flowers, and 
the thoughts and feelings they awaken in the mind. It is 
named in our home-vocabulary “ Forget-me-not,” and these 
three words suggest many things of the greatest importance 
to a human being. The lover, the friend, the unfortunate 
poor, all feel their force ; and we surely cannot gaze long 
upon the beauteous and delicate blossom, the work of that 
Almighty hand that formed the glorious galaxies of stars that 
throng with living worlds the boundless realms of space, with- 
out hearing a “ still small voice ” whispering “ Forget-ME- 
not ! ” The flower, therefore, small and fragile though it 
be, has a mission far nobler than that of merely adorning the 
marsh, or pleasing the eye with its lovely form. 
“ There breathes for those who understand, 
A voice from every flower and tree; 
And in the works of Nature’s hand, 
Lies Nature’s best philosophy ; 
For ‘ things invisible ’ are known, 
By what the visible have shown.” 
Many an important and improving lesson can a flower con- 
vey ! — even this little wilding of the marsh can administer 
consolation, and inspire hope, to the human breast. 
There are numerous poetical effusions to this flower, but 
space will not admit of quoting more than the following lines 
by Mr Wilkie, Dundee : — 
“ TO THE FORGET-ME-NOT. 
Not where the lordly myrtles grow, 
Nor near the gorgeous rose thou’rt seen ; 
H alf hid beside some streamlet’s flow, 
Thy lonely dwelling erst has been. 
Or looking from the hedge-row’s shade, 
As if to catch some straggling ray, 
Meekly thou lift’st thy beautous head, 
To kiss the wandering smile of day. 
Sweet flower ! we would not wish thy lot 
With those that boast a brighter hue ; 
Far sweeter, in thy chosen spot, 
Bloom thy fair flowers of heavenly blue. 
Hid like the memories of the heart, 
Whose sleep thy presence oft hath broken, 
And made them from their slumbers start, 
As if some youth-loved friend had spoken ; 
F 2 
