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reptiles, but its sway over evil spirits was supposed 
all-powerful. Nor did its influence stop bere ; it could 
unité tbe severed chain of friendship, and circling the 
herald’s brow, stood foremost in tbe field of war. The 
common St. John’s Wort has also attained no little 
famé from imaginary rule over supernatural enemies, 
and from being considered to décidé the fate of love. 
So entire was the belief in the potency of these flower- 
spells, that it was usual to exact an oath that no sprig 
of any of the plants to which magical powers were 
attributed, should be wom in trial by combat, by either 
of the contending parties. 
These recollections hâve been awakened by the 
Periwinkle, which, though we can assign no cause, has 
been made to bear an important part in the hours of 
joy and sorrow. A bridai zone was in ancient times 
formed of its slender sprays; but in Italy in the 
présent day, it is appropriated to a far different pur- 
pose. There, when the icy touch of death has chilled 
the warm spring of health, and stretched the loved 
babe lifeless on its couch, they who hâve loved it in 
life, wreathe around its cold brow the long stems of 
the Periwinkle. Fancy pictures the moumful scene;— 
a single ray of sunlight, struggling through the half- 
