The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-09-17
SELECT TALE,
From Household Words.
THE WILD-FL0wER OF THE DANUBE.

For months before the election Of repre-
sentative to the Hungarian Legislature, all
classes, high and low, wore the chosen badge
Of their party, consisting, generally, Of
feather, ribbon of one Of the national cOlOrs,
or of fresh sprig or flower. 1t was, thus,
easy to recognise at the first glance to which
party man belonged.
II the county Of Nesgrad (that smiling re-
giOn, which may we'll be called the garden of
hungary during the election which imme-
diately preceded our kings last breach Of
faith, a badge was chosen, which, from the
poetry Of its name, and the beauty Of its form,
excited in me a lively curiosity. 1t was a
plant found in Lower Hungary, more especial
" on the banks Of the Danube and the Thesis
On slender green stem, scantily decked with
leaves, waves a delicately divided feathery
flower, which, for sOftness and fleXibility. can
only be compared with ostrich or marabout
plumes. The soft filaments, which nestle so
gently, and the color Of which can only be de-
Bcribed as flaxen, will partly explain the pc
culiar name that the flower bears in Hungary,
namely, 1.-The Orphan Maiden Hair"
Count Joseph Zichy, young and ardent
member of the Left, had brought great guam
titles of this plant (Which continues for years
unchanged,) } from his estates in Lower Hun
gary to our Upland district, where it will not
grow. He distributed it as the opposition
badge at the election Of deputies for the mo-
mentous diet Of l647-46. The flower was so
becoming an ornament, that many ladies,
whose husbands or fathers belonged to that
party, adorned their riding hats with it--a cir
cumstanee which, doubtless, brought over
many youthful prOselyte.
One warm autumn evening, i sat with q
true hearted peasant family, before their cot
tage door. Twas to remain with them until
the following morning, when expected to re-
ceive letter which should regulate my move
ments. Father, mother and children were
stringing the dark golden, or purple brown,
spikes Of freshly gathered Turkish maize on
long pieces Of strong twine, in order to hang
them in festoons from the low straw roof to
dry. In the hat Of the fine active lads, waved
a most beautiful ''-Arva keaHy lgj:" Orphan
Maiden Hair,) at least eighteen inches IOnI
the black eyed Erzsi elizabeth observed,
with some pride, when she saw how admired
it, that this flower was not to be found in our
stony Nesgrad; and, perhaps, nowhere in such
perfection as Just here, on the neighbOring
banks Of the river, My former curiosity re-
turned, and / inquired into tho origin Of its
extraordinary name.
Ii was only after repeated entreaties that my
hosts, who, at my question, had assumed quite
a solemn air, determined to impart to me the
legend that prevails along the shores Of the
Danube, concerning this Hover. According
10 ancient custom, It might only be related by
the grandmother, on the long festive evenings
Of the Christmas week. As she, however, was
now i'll, the blooming Erzsi, after assuring u
she remembered every syllable Of it. was al
lowed 10 take her place. The full moon. Just
rising, quiveFed on the calm waves q the Dan;
Rbe, and the whole scene gave ahalt-saaaenec