REWARD OF VIRTUE. 
241 
REVERIE. 
FLOWERING FERN. 
There are great varieties of fern in differ¬ 
ent parts of the world, but they are seldom 
cultivated in gardens. The flowering fern is 
the finest of all our native species. Mathiole 
attributes to this, which grows principally in 
shady and humid places, the virtue of inspir¬ 
ing prophetic dreams. 
REWARD OF VIRTUE. 
A GARLAND OF ROSES. 
Let us crown ourselves with roses ere they be 
withered. Solomon’s sons. 
At Salency, in France, there is a festival 
of roses, instituted by St Medard, bishop of 
Noyon. There is an annual assemblage of 
young people of both sexes, who elect for 
their queen of the day that maiden who is 
most worthy (and her worth must consist in 
the practice of social and domestic virtues); 
then they crown her amidst loud rejoicings, 
and with solemn ceremony. The simple 
splendour of those flowers, which are the 
R 
