Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-06-04
The Rose, the Thistle, and the sham-
rock.
Cham ber's Journal gives the origin of
the national emblems. as follows:
THE ROSE OF ENGLAEI


the national emblems. as follows:
THE ROSE OF ENGLAND.
In the early part of the reign of Hen
~ vi, about the year 1850, few no.
blemen and gentlemen were discussing
who was the rightfui heir to the English
crown. After time they adjourned to
the Temple Gardens, thinking they
would be more free from interruption.
Scarcely, however, had they entered
when they perceived Richard Plantagen-
ct approaching. Unwilling to continue
the conversation in his presence a great
silence ensued. He, however, asked them
what they had been so anxiously talking
when he joined them, and whether they
espoused the cause of his party or that
of the usurper, Henry Lancaster, who
had filled the throne. A false and absurd
politeness preventing their making any
reply.
Since you are so reluctant to tell
your opinion by words, tell me by signs,
and let him that is an adherent of the
House of York pull white rosc, as l
do"
Then said the Earl of Somerset:
&c Let him who hates fiattery, and
dares to maintain our rightful kings in
the presence of bis enemies, pull red
rose with me"
When Henry the VII. married Eliza
beth. of York, the rival houses were
blended, and the rose became the EN-
blem of England.
THISTLE OF SCOTLAND.
In the reign of Malcolm l. in the year
1910, Scotland was invaded by the
Danes, who made descent on Aberdeen
shire, intending TO take by storm Staines
Castle, fortress of importance. The
still hour of midnight was selected as the
time of making the attack. When all
was ready, and there was q reasonable
hope that the inmates of the castle were
asleep, they commenced their march.
They advanced cautiously, taking off
their shoes to prevent their footsteps from
being heard. They approached the lof
ty tower, their hearts beating in joyous
hope Of victory; not sound is heard
within. They can scarcely refrain from
EXPLANATIONS of delight, for they had but
to swim across the moat and place seal
ing ladders, and the castle is theirs
But in another moment cry from them
selves rouses the inmates 10 sense of
their danger, the guards fly to their posts
and pursue the now trembling Danes,
who fly before them. Whence arose
this sudden change of affairs? From
very simple cause. 1t appears that the
moat, instead of being filled with water.
was in reality dried up and overgrown
with thistles, which pierced the unpro
tected feet of the assalants, who tor
tured with pain, forgot their cautious
silence, and uttered the cry which had
alarmed the sleeping inmates of the
castle.
THE SHAMROCK.
One day ST. Patrick was preaching at
Tara. He was anxious to explain the
doctrine of the Holy Trinity. The peo-
pie failed to understand and refused
to believe that there could be three
persons and yet but one God. The
holy man paused moment, absorbed in
thought, and seeing a shamrock peeping
through the green turf, exclaimed:
I" Do you see this simple little wild
flower, how three leaves are united in one
stalk 2"
His audience understood without diff
ficuIty this simple yet striking illus
tration, to the inexpressibIe delight of
St. Patrick. From that day the sham
rock became the national emblem OF
Ireland.
HoME.-Home enjoyments, home az
fections, home courtesies cannot be too
On rafnllu Or sfeadilu cultivatad Then