St. John's Wort.
The common people in France and Germany gather this plant with great ceremony on St. John's day, and hang it in their windows as a charm against thunder and evil spirits. In Scotland it is carried about as a charm against witchcraft and enchantment, and the people fancy it cures ropy milk, which they suppose to be under some malignant influence. As the flowers, when rubbed between the fingers, yield a red juice, it has obtained the name of Sanguis hominis (human blood) among some fanciful medical writers.
The young maid stole through the cottage door,
And blushed as she sought the plant of pow'r—
"Thou silver glow-worm, O lend me thy light,
I must gather the mystic St. John's wort to-night."