Cloud.  Every  cloud  has  a  silver  lining, — a  familiar  proverb,  mean-
ing that  the  worst  misfortunes  have  their  cotnpensation  or  their  promise  of
amelioration  in  the  future.  It  tnay  be  a  reminiscence  of  the  lines  (Z21,  213)
in  Milton's  "  Comus," —

Wa>  I  deceived,  or  did  a  uUe  cloud

Turn  fonl,  her  silver  Lining  ID  the  night  f.
La  Rochefoucauld  says  (Maxim  49),  "  We  are  never  so  happy  or  so  un-
happy as  we  think  ourselves."

n       open  w       l^jy^^i^j^'^^^yg^^^^^^^^.
See  also  Darkest  Hour  bkfore  the  Dawn.
Clover,  Four-Leaved.  This  plant  derived  its  significance  from  the  tact
that  its  four  leaves  are  arranged  in  the  form  of  a  cross.  Moreover,  its  com-
parative rarity  and  its  very  abnormality  (if  one  may  so  express  it)  made  it  seem
noteworthy  or  remarkable.  If  a  person  shall  wear  a  bit  of  this  plant  he  can
detect  the  preseiiLe  of  evil  spirits.     It  also  brings  a  good  rnrlune.
With  ■  fburJeaved  clover,  a  double -leaved  luh.  ud  m.  greeD-iopped  leaie  [nub].
r68  HANDY-BOOK  OF

A  Awr-leaved  clover  enables  a  maid  to  tee  ber  future  lover.  The  four'
leaved  grass  (irue-love,  one-berry,  herb-pans,  or  leopard's  bane]  is  another
mystical  cross-leaved  plant  concerning  which  much  might  be  said.  The
quaint  St.  Andrew's  cross  {Attyrum  erux-Aiuirr*]  is  a  very  interesting  plant
of  our  own  country,  with  cross-like  flowers.  Strangely  enough,  it  appears  to
have  no  folk-lore  attached  to  it.
