3Jimtp.er. 203 
J uniper. .. .Protection. 
Tiie Juniper has been the favourite of Superstition. 
The ancients consecrated the shrub to the Furies. The 
smoke of its green roots was the incense which they 
offered in preference to the infernal gods; and they 
burned its berries during funerals to ban malign in¬ 
fluences. In some parts of Europe, the peasant still 
believes that the perfume of Juniper berries purifies 
the air, and drives evil spirits from his humble cot. 
The Juniper is made to signify protection, on account 
of the defensive qualities ascribed to it by superstition, 
and the shelter its drooping branches afford to small 
animals which are hard pressed by the hunters. 
I have found out a gift for my fair; 
I have found where the wood-pigeons breed ; 
But let me that plunder forbear, 
She will say, ’twas a barbarous deed. 
“For he ne’er could be true,” she averred, 
“Who could rob a poor bird of its young;” 
And I loved her the more, when I heard 
Such tenderness fall from her tongue. 
Shenstone. 
