, 1870-09-25
THE CROWN IMPERIAL LILY,


base, Elk drops OF water, crystal clear. Re-
move them gently, similar ones Will instantly
come back again =. befors. Whsuce Do they
spring: What are they , They cannot be dew
: the flowers mouth is bent ea.thwaris, no
heaven-dropt moisture could enter its bell
shipped cup
Eighteen centuries ago, when our Lord had
taken unto His gracious self human form
ard walked this earth. our LlI@s aspect WAS
not the same she presents to us to-day. Her
flowers were then Of pure ellyeEy white, md
they stood upright, presenting their fair bo-
gaze and joy Of men. The alender dropping
feaves above It's coroneted head were then in
deed protection for tho tender flowers from
the too boista1ous plAJ OF the clements, and
not mare futile ornament IS they aro now.
Sill more than now was the lily 4 fair orna-
ment in field or dali, and allthin9s named her
beautiful. Thus lovely, pure, and innocent,
she hloomed in spoteas glory in the garden Of
Gethsemane-
Nov. our Lord liked this shady spot at the
he wAs worried With tho days teaching, with
e1ho1ing the people to sin no more, but be-
liese; when his tender heart bled ior orr hu~
man woe. he would wend his sacred feet to
the grove OF shadowy olive trees, and, cross-
ing The Little bridge that spanned the brook
sem2ne.
Jeaus loved flowers. He saw in tham "aod's
emile on the earth" and, ne be trod the wind
inE paths OF the enclosure, his eye looked
with benign pleasure on the many bright Bios
some growing around. that bent their heads
beneath his gaze in holy, reyerent awe. So
many time had be passed below The Eray
olive boughs, and not nnfrequeutly had he
tcheld with unfeigued delight the pure czown
Of s1yerJ bells Which the lily's stem nsll up to
heaven.
The other flowers noticed this preference,
but they TeIe uot enyious, nay, they we're but
too glad that one of their number could afford
Il tut tho triefest pleasure to him.
Lily said the grave old Olive tree, who
rarely coudf descended 10 conversation with any
but his fellow trees, and had never before ad-
dressed plant, 30 fsr beneath him in age and
condition: "Lsly, you are favored above us
all; the Master loves jon; let me wish you
joy Of sout beauty" And for once the etern,
uRapproachaole tree meant what he spoke to
an inferior being.
ber." srokc out the modest Violet from among
her shading leaves.
lyon arc, yon are" interrupted the forward
Jasmine, efIectua1ly preventing the Violet
from uttesipg another word; for shs Was
I shy, and rarely nerved herself to the effort Of
speech. 80
=. From this day FORTH" eaid the Rose, Il 7
| viii consider nay qucenly title II lowered in
your favor. You ahall be tho floral emp1ees.
See" she went On, turning her fragrant head
to tho other flowers, docs not our sister bear
upon her all the insignia Of roya1t57 Behold,
she carries her flowers crownwise around her
stem. Hail, empress bail, lily imperinl!"
HAL, hail, !" exclaimed all the other planta.
Hail, grnyely repeated the Olives-
All WAS joy and giAdness, no shade Of jeal-
ousy OF strife broke on their pence. As for
the Lily, she raised her head yet more proud
l aSf hall
more fully. and merely degned to aeknowl-
| edge her comtadeB' compliments By conde-
scending nod Of her central crested leaves.
Late in the afternoon OF that day on which
their empress, our Lord entered the garlen.
He Was weaEy and sad. and had sought tllia
| quiet solitude to commune with his Father,
aud seek retreshment for his soul, to renew
the daily battle with sin aod unbeliet. It wls
long before hepaid his wonted sttantion to the
flowers around.
Meantime 4 whole etream Of thoughts
cou1sed through the lfyfs head. She was
the most beautiful of al the gardens dowers
her sisters had publicly proclaimed her 30 To-
day; she felt very proud and glad. Hos proud
and glad. how much her vanity Was assserct
She would prove, to them this evening thx
they had Dot III bestowed their honors, tha
Ahe knew how to support them With becoming
dignity. It Vas r1ght aud fitting ths othe1
tovers should bend before the Mastar, but il
would not be right that she should bow he,
must not be beheld pEostEa,ing herself to
| gether with them. No, to-day her pure whit,
| cups must boldly meet tho MAstera eye !; Ant
surely, abe considcred, wonld not that Civ,
him far mors pleasure than II she merel
allowed her bent outward form, which wA
not ne4 90 pure ~ her inmost deptha Thus
while our Lord prayed, WIS the eTl spirit 0
pride and vanity reasoning within the Lily
tre3st.
When he had ended biz petition, he rost
and began to pace beneath the olive trees, hi
eyes resting kindly upon the 1owera, who ben
low1y before him ~ le passed, and sent up
ward thelr choicest, richest perfumes. Walk
ing further, he came to the spot whera th
Lily grew in her imperial 1oveIiness, and, q
he drew Dearer, she stidened her stem ye
more Hgidly, bore her bells mora haughhly
aud nhen Jesus stood before her ahe mad
no movement Of reverend 1ecoguition and de
votion.
Il Now, our Lord knew what w,a passing il
, the flowers heart. He felt sad, and turue
away awhile. hoping that the Lily might ye
, conquer the demon within her, and bow b.
, fore her Maker, to whom alone sha Owed be
beauty. Yet no; when he resumed his gaz
her crowned bead WAS still raised upward, an
8 \ supreme indifference to his presence sp0k
ont o: her whole bearing.
Then the Lord came closer, and stood sh
sefo5e ths plant Hs .ed bis c1ssr gs.y e, eSe 7;
3 look, it shot like lightning through be
frame, but the demon OF pride was aet,s
: within her, and abe stroye to hide her emo
ton.
: A reprnsing look came over the. gentl
t Of the Lily. 4 psined shape passed over th
i clear eyes. The Lily felt hes zesolutio
4 sayering, though she struggled with nigh
i! aud man TO remain in her psoud posture
4 Bend thy head, Lily" whispered th
Il other aoHen, panied md gEieTcd It this con
: dnct. ''Bend! Acknowledge ny Lord. Csgs
= II viii not b4od," ahe said half-alond, i
a petu1ent tones. II will show myself to th
q lard IN ny utmost loyeliness. That il N
!, manner Of Worship"
u Jesua heard the words, and He advance
6 inspiring reproof and admonishneut- n
Z spoke no ~uru, utteredu sound, but RENAME
standing before the flower in silent rspfoc
u His eye unzemittingfy Axei upon her wilt
' | Crown. Her resolution f.dtdm dmole and mora
ser P.aae began to gsver: she fer IT.. i Ess T.
!, power and command enforced By thof
heavenly eyes looking upon h.r tor the fri
/. tine without pleasure, but fo1l Of unmixe
Il pain.
Slowly, slowly her white bells began to tren
BILE under the Divine glAnee; still mora slow
- &tower-cup spread dark red blush Of sham
,uL ttean OF repentance started into her eye
steadily and gradually each flower cup droopt
u (its head earthHsrd. and soon the hithar
to }psoud Lily stood with dropped, nams-colost
"a |tsells and eo11owful mieu before the Lord.
I He hid observed The whols change-sl
heeing forth Of the evil spirit, the EepentAnc
ythe sct Of temoase- He removed his fezrf
}GlAoce fzou tha flower. and L nailder expire
s'on returned to his gentle usage.
nhest IN peace, Lily, Sin no more,
r. aid. and passed Oh
d. When be had left the garden the 9th
d, Iowefs raised themselves from their pands
lts sosture, and allof them asaAiled the Lily vi
nd approaches.
mt How oouldst thou dars to be 20 proud
ill., hey said knovest thou not It's ! fear4
"a u? thou whom We had crowned our e
gh aees to-day, how couldst thou ahsme Us th
~ aore the Lord Of Life, when Just becsnse
e. = high eetate thou oughteat 10 have been
ke f1t to humble thy heads"
ut tany Of the flowers xept bitter team, 4
60, cdld speak no further for sobe-
in she Lily answered not word: she v
1c- erwhle had dared the Lord. She VIA Cow
Of Il humili1ted, her spirit broken. Slen
md 81 bore the seproofs Of her companion
lay etntly the taunts and ieers some less d.
Of ck-minded ehrubs would utter, Shs felt
ood Il more She continued 70 hang her he
to fe deep Elush was still unfaded On
hip ceeks.
1ed A she replied by not word, tho others
The ltgth ceases their reproschee, and left :!
ar nne to her sad Aud bitter thoughts.
he sort Eastern night o'e1epread the land Wit
.ate d Of darkness, the moons yellow, +
be ooded the gardens, and her Light plai,
Ibla song the gray green olive bonghs- !
,xr~ IN ets rolled up their leaves, folded their
thiai aa in~arde, ind sought elumber; tha !
:ca ntonous sleepy nodding Of the trees .aat
I singing their full1ty. Al was hnshed
lH etl; III save the Lily were 1t rest She ale
i ofA1l thAt number Was lone and restless
Sd eoa]d not forget what had passed within
vi DAY Just dead; eoiIow would not poI1nls
til to Aumber. and when, st lsst, after tbs nj