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271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
115
Of
the
many
proverbs
connected
with
thorns,
there
is
the
true
one
which
tells
us
how,
"He
that
goes
barefoot
must
not
plant
thorns,"
The
meaning
of
which
is
self-evident,
and
the
person
who
lives
in
a
chronic
state
of
uneasiness
is
said
to,
"sit
on
thorns."
Then
there
is
the
oft-quoted
adage:--
"While
thy
shoe
is
on
thy
foot,
tread
upon
the
thorns."
On
the
other
hand,
that
no
position
in
life
is
exempt
from
trouble
of
some
kind
is
embodied
in
this
proverb:--
"Wherever
a
man
dwells
he
shall
be
sure
to
have
a
thorn
bush
near
his
door,"
which
Ray
also
explains
in
its
literal
sense,
remarking
that
there
"are
few
places
in
England
where
a
man
can
dwell,
but
he
shall
have
one
near
him."
Then,
again,
thorns
are
commonly
said
to
"make
the
greatest
crackling,"
and
"the
thorn
comes
forth
with
its
point
forward."
Many
a
great
man
has
wished
himself
poor
and
obscure
in
his
hours
of
adversity,
a
sentiment
contained
in
the
following
proverb:--
"The
pine
wishes
herself
a
shrub
when
the
axe
is
at
her
root."
A
quaint
phrase
applied
to
those
who
expect
events
to
take
an
unnatural
turn
is:--
"Would
you
have
potatoes
grow
by
the
pot-side?"
Amongst
some
of
the
other
numerous
proverbs
may
be
mentioned
a
few
relating
to
the
apple;
one
of
these
reminding
us
that,
"An
apple,
an
egg,
and
a
nut,
You
may
eat
after
a
slut."
Selfishness
in
giving
is
thus
expressed:--
"To
give
an
apple
where
there
is
an
orchard."
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