The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-05-01
Flower Legends.


nation OF the men of old with fable, or
of simple history, which
received from them kind of pleasant ac-
ceprance. willing credence. All the
poets who sing we'll Of flowers have secur-
ed good hearing, the very names Of
plants "smel sweet and blossoms in the
dust" of old literature, and in almost fer
gotten songs. The Pers:ans press their
sentiments into the mouths Of flowers. and
arrange their boquets gramma,ically. In
all civilized nations they are the types and
symbols of loveliness. innocence and fresh
ness, of unques,ioned and unqueslioning
beauty.
When Venus first appeared rising from
the froth of the sea. roses are said to have
sprung simultaneously from the earth. and
the graces Fastening to attend her, crown
ed themselves with the novel flower in
honor Of the new divinity The roses
which then appeared were white; and
none displayed any other tint till the death
footed TO the assis ance Of her beloved,
trod upon rose which wounded her with
its thorns, aud being stained with her
blood, ever after retained tho crimson
hue.
Associated with the Narcssus, We have
the following:
Narcissus was a youth of Boeotia. Of
whom Tiresias. the soothsayer, foretold
that he should live happy until he saw his
own face. but that would be fatal to him
On account Of his surprising beauty. the
nvmph Echo became desperately enamored
OF him. but he slighted her love, and she
pined away with grief, till nothing re-
maned Of her voice, and even that lost
the power of utterance beyond repeating
the last syllable Of IA sentence. Narcssus,
clear calm rivulet, and there, for the first
time. beheld his own image reflected In
the water He became SO fond Of him
self, that he would never leave the spot
where his beauty had been revealed to him.
but gazing ill he had wasted away. was
changed hy the gods into the flower that
bears his name.
llyacinthus, being beautiful and accom-
plishcd, was So highly esteemed by Apollo.
that Zephyrus, incensed a. the youth 5
coliiess and Indifference. determined on
his destruction. One day. when Apollo
AMI Hyacin'hus were playing quot. Zephy-
rus, hidden anon, tho fieecy clouds. di-
rected with his breath the quot flung by
Apollo full upon the head of the uufor,u-
nate prince. who instantly fell dead Gres;
was he grief Of the sun god. who. to
commemorate his victim BY their grace
ani beauty. caused hyacintEs to epring
from his blood
In connection with flowers comes in the
lovely legend Of the Rape Of Proserpine
who, on the Nyaian plain, accompanied by
the ocean nynph. was plucking flowers
She culled the rose. the violet. the crocus
the hyacinth, and beholdng narcissu,
Of rare size and beauty. she. stretched ou
her hand TO gather ill., when the earth
opened and Pluto. arising in his golden
chariot. seized her and bore her away
/ Ceres, her mother. hears her cries. bu
knows not who has stolen her, nor whittier
she has fled. Hc,ior. however (the sun,
betrays the secret. and tells her that Jovt
permitted IT, Then Ceres, Disguised
+ deserted heaven. aud dwell among NOR
/ tails " Bu, she would not allow the corr
TO sprout. and threatened with the destruc
tion Of his suSjrcis Oh earth. Jove be
seeches her return To heaven, To- which sh,
consents on one condiiion-t the restoration
of her daughter. who at length returns
+ but not ill she has eaten n pomegran
given her by Pluto. through which sh'
was compelled to return and pass thir'
of the year with her infernal husband
'for Pluto welt in lIades." And wha
is Prosperpiae but seed corn. which being
cast into the ground. remains hidden ther
I'LL it appears upon the surface. AM
though not delaying to sprout for thir'
Of a year, yet it is about that time from
the sowing of the grain to It's ripene'
fullness Of the eaI.
Turning to the Christian era, We fin
that the priests of the eaily church ell
listed flowers into their service. The
compiled catalogue Of flowers for eac
day. dedicating each to some pariicula
saint on account, Of its towering about III
! time Of the saints festival. Every on
knows the aspen. ever moving, ever trem
bling in the caimest GUNNER day, th
legeued Of which runs as follows:
AS tie angel Of death neared the cross o
which lie hung, who "considereth III
lilies how they grow" he dashed the Gu
Of bitterness full at It's foot; and the aspe