MARIGOLD . 
( Grief .) 
“ She droops and mourns, 
Bedewed, as ’twere with tears.” 
George Withers. 
fjs*|g|jj] Y old English poets these plants are called “ golds 
j| | the name of the Virgin Mary was a very frequent 
addition in the Middle Ages to anything useful 
or beautiful, and so in course of time this flower became 
known as the Marigold. In Provence they call it gauche 
fer (left-hand iron), probably from its round, brilliant 
disc, suggestive of a shield, which is worn on the left 
arm. 
Although by itself, however, the Marigold expresses 
grief, by a judicious mixture with other flowers its mean¬ 
ing may be greatly varied. For instance, combined with 
roses it is symbolic of “ the bitter sweets and pleasant pains 
of love;” whilst amongst Eastern nations a bouquet of mari¬ 
golds and poppies signifies “ I will allay your pain.” As¬ 
sociated with cypress, the emblem of death, marigolds 
betoken despair. 
The marigold is usually open from nine in the morn¬ 
ing till three in the afternoon; this foreshows a continu¬ 
ance of dry weather : should the blossom remain closed, 
rain may be expected. It shuts at sunset : 
