34 
THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
tion of the ancient authors. A strawberry plant, which 
had chanced to grow over his window, turned him from 
this vast design: he observed this plant, and discovered 
so many wonders in it, that he clearly saw that the study 
of a single plant and its inhabitants was enough to fill a 
lifetime. He then renounced the ambitious title of his 
book, and contented himself with writing Studies of 
Nature. It is from this book that we must acquire a 
taste for observation ; and it is there, above all, that we 
must read of the strawberry. All over the world this 
charming berry, which vies with the rosebud in fresh¬ 
ness and perfume, delights the sight, the smell, the 
taste. It is a welcome luxury on the tables of the rich, 
and a feast for the children of the poor. The learned 
botanist Linnaeus was cured of frequent attacks of the 
gout by the use of strawberries. The flowers are 
delicate and pretty ; but who so barbarous as to 
pluck them ? 
THYME {Thymus). Activity. 
“ I know a bank whereon the wild thyme grows.” 
How many diligent bees sing this song to each other, 
and swarm about the flowery, fragrant tufts! The 
Greeks regarded this herb as the symbol of activity ; 
doubtless they had observed that its perfume, strength¬ 
ening to the brain, is very salutary for old persons. 
Activity is a warlike virtue, and this is why ladies for¬ 
merly often embroidered on the scarf of their knights a 
bee humming round a branch of thyme. 
