3 MARCH 1928, Page 12

Roving Sailor*

ROVING Sailoz, whence do you hail, Sir ? " " From a far country, away to the South I " " What is your race, and what is your name, Sir ? "A long strange name, that is soft in the mouth."

" Roving Sailor, when did you land, Sir ? "

"Many long moons and centuries gone."

" Where have you lodged in the long dim years, Sir ? " Lodged me in nooks and crannies of stone."

" Roving Sailor, what was your inn, Sir ? " "'Tomas a fair garden, where erst I was set". " After long travel can you not halt, Sir ? " Nay, I must wander to far lands Yet."

"-God be your guide, whatever betide, Sir ; Fair be the havens wherever you fall ; But—wide though you wander—you bide still beside me, Blooming all months on my grey garden wall."

AGNES FRY.

* Linaria Cymbalaria, the familiar ivy-leaved toad-flax, or Mother. of-millions, is also called Roving Sailor in• Cornwall. There is good evidence that it is not a native British plant but was. intro- duced by Mr. William Coys to his garden at N. Pekiiigdon iri Essex about the .end Of the sixteenth century—where (as Mr: gynthertells.us in Early Britiagi Botanists) it still grows, and whence' it has spread over meat of England.