


14 FLORAL POESY. 
The Red rose leaf is an admirable tonic ; the Lily leaf 
heals a cut. Chamomile is a tonic. Cowslip affords a 
wine and a pudding, besides an infant’s ball ; the Lesser 
Celandine is still used in medicine for the relief of a 
painful disease; and who is ignorant of the blessed 
soothing powers of the Poppy and Henbane ? Greek 
mythology has left a floral record ; the Mistletoe, Ver- 
vain, and St. John’s Wort recall Druidic rites of ancient 
Britain. 
Thus we may give with a bouquet memories of mytho- 
logy, history, usefulness, beauty, and fragrance ; and in 
modern times we have added to the ancient claims of 
flowers that of language—a gift bestowed on them by 
the Hast, and transplanted: thence by one of the most 
gifted of Englishwomen, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. 
In our Floral Gift we have endeavored to unite all 
this goodly heritage of flower-land. And with these 
few lines of introduction, we leave them to their worthy 
chroniclers—the Poets. 

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