It may or it may not be that the blessed woman since called Veronica (from the supposed miracle) was Berenice, daughter of Salome, niece of Herod. Would that it were! for then she would have shown much courage as well as much compassion. But is it not more than probable that the legend had some foundation in fact?

What wonder would it be if, from amongst the daughters of Jerusalem who did weep for Him who went about doing good,' one pitying hand stretched forth, as the patient Sufferer passed by, and passed her woman's veil tenderly over the 'marred' face, wet with the dews of unutterable agony?

Sacred dews, that shall henceforth descend in showers of unspeakable mercy upon mankind!

The Saviour's image-not graven on the senseless cloth-would most surely be impressed on the woman's feeling heart, sanctifying her afterlife, and making her for ever His own.

He who attached a reward to a cup of cold water given in His name would He have passed on His way regardless of this act of womanly sympathy, nor left His blessing behind?

And not to Veronica alone! Sisters, are our veils ever wet with tears? Let them recall to us Veronica's veil of other days—not pictured, but simply wetted by our dear Redeemer's drops of agony. Hallowed by the thought, thrice blessed will our tear-wetted veils become, if they serve to imprint the Saviour, the Comforter, upon our

hearts.

VERONICA, THE TRUE IMAGE.

The scene is reversed.

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It is we who

must now bear the cross-it is He who will wipe our griefs away.

Do any bear the pretty name of Veronica? Oh, what a continual reminder they have of the holiness which their lives should reflect!*

* The Robin, called in Brittany Jean le Gorge-rouge, has his red throat and breast accounted for there by a pretty legend. His feathers are said to have been first crimsoned by his own blood, as he wounded himself in striving to pluck the thorns from the Saviour's crown.

Some flowers have been called after saints from growing abundantly in the neighbourhood of their shrines. The plant Angelica may have derived its name from its healing powers, and fanciful eyes have discovered in the markings of the leaves of the Veronica some resemblance to a human face. The flower was believed to be a charm against evil spells; hence its common name of Speedwell.

CHAPTER VIII.

Curiosities in histories of names

Superstitions in ancient Rome Lucky and unlucky names - Diocletian Hippolytus - Superstitions in various nations - Lucky and unlucky letters - Talismans and charms Moses' Rod Solomon's Seal-Abracadabra-Hebrew and Druidical alphabet of trees and plants—Anagrams and acrostics

--

The Imperial riddle of the vowels Sad story of an anagram - Variations in a name.

IN

N days of old, ere Faith born of the Spirit was seen with radiant finger pointing ever upwards to a God of love, the human race, anxious-eyed and irresolute, followed blind superstition into many a darkling and crooked path.

Accomplished Greece and warlike Rome were alike bewildered by the conflicting claims of their many divinities, to whom in their ignorance and irreverent folly they attributed such idle jealousies and bitter animosities as would have disgraced humanity. They walked in fear and doubt all the day long. The minds of some of the wisest of their philosophers, the bravest of their commanders, were alike strangely and unhealthily affected by the commonest incidents of their daily life—they were unnerved or elated by the most immaterial circumstances.

Amongst these many causeless sources of undue

LUCKY AND UNLUCKY NAMES.

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hopes and fears, none were looked upon as more pregnant with meaning, none considered of more moment, than lucky or unlucky names.

Oracles were consulted and sacrifices offered up, so that by their gods fortunate names might be revealed. In religious ceremonies, and in all public undertakings, the greatest precautions were observed, so that those who assisted in them, or at least all those to whom prominent positions were assigned, should have names of good augury. The children by whom the victims were led, the priests by whom they were to be sacrificed, or by whom the new temple was to be dedicated, were carefully selected according to the signification of their names.

When citizens were chosen for the formation of new colonies, or soldiers enrolled for military expeditions, or even when electors registered their votes, such names only as were supposed to presage good fortune were allowed to head the lists.

In Rome, Valerius, sig. of strength, and Salvius, sig. of safety, were amongst the lucky names; but Vespellian, derived from vespa, a wasp (a disagreeable companion indeed), Nævus, a blemish, and Egerius, expressive of want, were avoided as sure prognostics of evil.

Certain tribes were considered in consequence of their names to bring misfortune whenever they presented themselves first to vote, or to take part in any public ceremony. When criminals

were assembled for judgment, the trials commenced with those whose names were reckoned as least fortunate.

Good or evil auguries were drawn even from the names of animals.

Lepidus Æmilius Paullus Macedonicus, a Roman consul, appointed for the second time to conduct the war in Macedon against Perseus, on returning to his house from the election found his little daughter Æmilia (No. 3) in tears. On his asking the cause, the child replied that her favourite dog Perseus was dead. The Roman general gladly accepted the omen for good. Assured of success, he set off on the expedition which terminated in Perseus, last of the Macedonian kings, being brought in triumph a prisoner to Rome, there to die of a broken heart.

Before the battle of Actium, Augustus was rejoiced by a favourable augury—a donkey and its driver were the humble instruments of his joy. Meeting an ass, he hastened to enquire its name. It proved to be Nikân, sig. in Greek to conquer. Thus encouraged to ask the name of the man by whom it was led, his triumph was complete, for it was Eutyches, the fortunate! After his victory over Anthony, Augustus built a temple in which were placed figures of the luckbringing (?) ass and its master.

In later days an Italian physician found in his name a powerful letter of introduction to the court of the Imaum of Muscat. On being asked