Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1858-07-17
ONE OF HANS ANDERSON'S
STORIES

| SlORlES,
A great Queen once reigned in whose
garden bloomed the loveliest flowers
from all parts Of the world, at every
season Of the year. But above all other
flowers she loved roses; and therefore,
she possessed the greatest variety Of
these, from the wild hedge rose with
green, apple scented leaves, to the
most beautiful rose of Provence. They
grew on the castle walls, twincd round
the pillars and above the easements of
the corridors and saloons; and the roses
varied in scent, form and color.
But care and sadness dwelt in that
palace; the Queen lay on her sick bed
and the physicians said she must die
There is however a remedy for her.
said the wisest among them Bring to
her the fairest rose in the world-the
one which is the expression of the high
est and purest love-if that comes be-
fore her eyes ere they close, she will
not die.
And young and old came from all lands
with roses the loveliest that bloomed
i'll every garden, but none was the right
one The Aower must be brought from
the garden of love but what rose could
be the expression of the highest, purest
love?
And the poets sang of the fairest rose
in the world-each one named his own.
And messengers were sent through all
the countries round, to every heart that
beat with love-to every rank and every
age.
No one has yet named the fower,'
said the wise man. No one has shown
the place from whence it springs in its
beauty. 1t is not one of the roses from
the bricr cf Romeo and Juliet or from
Walburg's grave though these flowers
will ever bloom in legends and songs.
1t is not of the roses that bloomed forth
from Winkelried's blood-stained lance
from the holy blood which flowed in
death from the breast of the hero for the
fatherland, though no death is swceter,
no rose is reddcr than the blood which
then flows. 1t is, also, not that wonder.
flower, for the cultivation of which man
gives his fresh life away in years and
days-the magic rose of knowledge.
Il know where it blooms!' said a hap
py mother, who came to the Queens
couch with her tender babe.
Il know where the fairest rose in the
world is to be foumd-the rose which
is the expression of the highest, purcst
love. 1t blooms on the blush-cheeks of
my sweet child, when it opens its eyes
refreshed by slunaber, and smiles at me
with its whole love-
Lovely is that rose, but there is yet
! fairer one,' said the wise man.
Yes, a much fairer one,' said one of
lic women; I have seen it; boiler
osc blooms not. But it was pale like
le petals Of the tea-rose. l saw it on
he cheeks Of the Queen; she had laid
Iside her royal crown, and was nursing
Ter sick child in the long sad night
She wcpt and kissed it and prayed to
5od for it, as mother prays in the hour
# anguish ...
Holy and wonderful is the white rose
# "a n ,ss in its power, but it is not tho
me sought for
No, saw the fairest rose world before
he alar of the Lord said the good old
shop. L saw it shine as though an
ngePs face had shown itself. The
'oung maiden went to the altar Of the
.ord, having renewed the vow Of her
aptism, and roses came and went on
er fresh cheeks. The young maiden
melt there; she looked up to God with
er whole soul full Of purity and love.
hat was the expression of the purest,
ighest love-
Blessed is it, said the wise man;
but no one has yet named the fairest
,se in the world
Then stepped child into the chamber,
,e little son of the Queen. Tears stood
his eyes and on his delicate cheeks.
e carried large closed book, bound
velvet, with large silver clasps
Mother said the little one, 'oh hear
hat have read
And the child seated itself on the bed
nd read out of the book of Him who
ave himself to die on the Cross in order
, save men, and even unborn genera
ons. Greater love is there not!
And rose.blush spread over tho
mems cheeks; her eyes became so
rioht. for she saw the fairestrose spring
rth from the leaves of the book-thc
keness of the one which bloomcd from
,e blood of Christ on the Cross.
Il see itv said she. They never die
no look on this rose-the fairest in the
orld.'
To GET R.D or A BAD NEIGHBoR.-A