Middletown transcript., 1869-07-03
The Rose, Shamrock and Thistle.

Chambers journal gives the origin of
these national emblcms as follows:
The Rose Of Enqluad.-Tn the early
part of the reign of Henry VI. about the
year 14G0 few noblcmen and gentlemen
were discussing who was the rightful heir
to the English crown. After time they
adjourned to the Temple Gardens, think
ing they would be more free from inter-
ruption. Scarcely, however, had they ar
rived, when they saw Richard Plantag genet
approaching. Unwilling to continue the
conversation in his presence, great ST.
lence ensucd. He, however, asked them
what they had been SO anxiously talking
about when he joined them, and whether
they espoused the cause of his party, or
that of the usurpor Henry of Lancaster,
who had filled the throne. A false and
absurd politeness preventing their making
any reply he added, "Sincc you are so re-
luctant to tell your opinion by words, tell
me by signs, and let him that is an adhe-
rent of the House of York pull white
rose as do" Then said the Earl of Som
erset, ''Lot him who hates hattery, and
dares to maintain our rightful king, even
in tho presence Of his enemies, pull red
rose with me-" When Henry VII. mar
ried Elizabeth York, the rival houses were
blended, and the rose became the emblem
of England
THE Thistle Of Scotland. In the reign
of Malcolm |. in the year 1910, Scotland
was invaded by Danes, who made de-
scent on Aberdecnshire, intending to take
by storm Stanes Castle, fortress of i'm
portance The still hour of midnight was
selected as the time for commencing the
attack. When all was ready and there
was reasonable hope that the inmates of
the castle were asleep, they commenced
their march. They advanced cautiously,
taking off their shoes to prevent their foot
steps being heard. They approached the
lofty tower, their hearts beating with an
ticipation of victory. Not sound was
heard from within. They can scarcely re-
frain from exhultations of delight, for they
have but to swim across the moat and
place scaling ladders, and the castle is
theirs But in another moment cry from
themselves arouses the inmates to a sense
of their danger, the guards fly to their
posts and pursue the now trembling Danes
who now fly before them. Whence arose
this sudden change of affairs? From a
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 unprotec-
ted feet of the assailants, who, tortured
with pain, forgot their cautious silence and
uttered the cry which had alarmed the
sleeping inmates of the castle.
The Shamrock Of Heland.-One day
st. Patrick was preaching at Tara He
was anxious to explain the doctrine of the
Holy Trinity. The people failed to under
stand 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 sham
rock peeping from the green turf exclaim-
ed, "Do you not see in this simple little
wild flower how three leaves are united in
one stalk?" His audience understood
without difficulty this simple yet striking
illustration, to the inexpressible delight Of
ST. Patrick, and from that day the sham
rock became the national emblem of Ire
land