106 
LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
LUCERN. 
LIFE. 
Lucern will occupy the same spot for a long 
time; but, when once it leaves it, it is for ever. 
This is, no doubt, the reason why it has been 
adopted as the emblem of life. 
Nothing is more beautiful than a field of Lu¬ 
cern in flower, spreading itself out to the eye, 
like an immense green carpet tipped with violet. 
When cultivated, this plant jflelds abundant 
crops, without requiring any care. Cut it down 
and it springs up again. The cow rejoices at 
the sight of it, it is a favourite food of the sheep, 
the horse, and the goat. A native of our cli¬ 
mate, this valuable gift comes to us direct from 
heaven. Its possession costs us no trouble; 
we enjoy it without thought, and without grati¬ 
tude. Very often we prefer to it a flower, 
whose only merit is its transient beauty. In 
like manner we too often relinquish a certain 
benefit, to run after vain pleasures, which fly 
away and escape us. 
