bearing the device of
three golden lilies was presented by an angel to Clothilde, the wife of
Clovis, and it is claimed that the lily has been the true national
emblem of France ever since the time of that Sovereign. Whatever the
origin, however, of Fleur de lys, it certainly means lily now, and the
Lily of France is a symbol as definite as the Rose of England, as the
Shamrock of Ireland, or as the Thistle of Scotland.

It is curious how much superstition and romance have clustered round the
humble clover-leaf. Not one of us, perhaps, but has in childhood spent
hours in looking for the four-leaved clover that was to bring untold
luck. What trouble to find it! What joy when found! And what little
profit beyond the joy of the search! As the old couplet has it, somewhat
inconsequently:

'With a four-leav'd clover, double-topp'd ash, and green-topp'd seave,
You may go before the queen's daughter without asking leave.'

The advantage here suggested is not very obvious, but the Devonshire
people had a more defined idea of the virtue of the double clover, and
they state it thus:

'An even-leaved ash,
And a four-leaved clover;
You'll see your true lover
Before the day's over.'

But in Cambridgeshire it seems that the two-leaved clover is the object
of desire, for there the saying goes:

'A clover, a clover of two,
Put it on your right shoe;
The first young man you meet,
In field, or lane, or street,
You shall have him,
Or one of his name.'

This, while presenting a considerable amount of uncertainty in the
result has, at least, the merit of presaging something.

In other parts, however, and in more ancient days, the carrying of the
four-bladed clover was believed to bring luck in play and in business,
safety on a journey, and the power of detecting evil spirits. In Germany
the clover was held almost sacred whenever it had two or four blades.
Now, as to luck, a curious thing is stated by the author of the Plant
Lore of Shakespeare. He says that clover is a corruption of _clava_, a
club, and that to this day we preserve the emblem of luck on our
playing-cards in painting the suit of clubs. Somehow the etymology does
not seem very satisfying; but at any rate we all know what 'living in
clover' means.

Yet, perhaps, everyone does not know that in rural districts the clover
is looked upon as a capital barometer, the leaves becoming rough to the
feel when a storm is impending. A writer