(247) 
The Th orn-Z^pple. 
An annual plant of the genus Datura , especially D. stramonium; 
Jamestown weed. Every part of the Thorn-apple, or Datura, is a deadly 
poison. 
Deceitful Charms; or, Life without Faith. 
fj£OETHE, that marvelous German poet, in a strange, wild, reckless 
“Song of Life,” gives us a description of man’s life, or, at least, some 
account of his own career and sad disappointment. 
He has voiced in these verses the cry of disappointment of a great 
mind and heart without the doctrine of faith which certifies immortality 
to the human soul, and points to man his real destiny. 
Hear his weird, wild words: 
“I have set my heart upon nothing, you see; 
Hurrah! 
And so the world goes well with me; 
And who has the mind to be fellow of mine. 
Why, let him take hold and help me drain 
These mouldy lees of wine. 
I set my heart first upon wealth, 
Hurrah! 
And bartered away my peace and health, 
But ah! 
The slippery change went about like air. 
And when I had clutched me a handful here, 
Away it went there! 
I set my heart upon woman next. 
Hurrah! 
For her sweet sake was oft perplexed, 
But ah! 
