The Useful Weed.

Do not despise the humble weed,             For the Lord He first sowed the seed,             Perhaps it bears most precious fruit,             And useful leaves and potent root.             Though it seems now a useless weed,             Countless millions it yet may feed,             Or future ages it may prize,             Finding in it beauteous dyes.             Or a valued healing balm,             Will make the heated pulse beat calm,             And the future men of science,             May place on it strong reliance.             And it may play important part,             In advancing skill and art,             And no person now doth know             How useful are the weeds that grow.             Weeds we now look on with loathing,             They may yet be used for clothing,             Producing silken glossy coat,             Or paper fine for the bank note.             But you at present must take heed,             And do not grow the cumbrous weed,             Either in garden or in field,             Where plants with profit now do yield.