Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-08-10
Cur aJunus folks.
From Good Words for the Young.
The Crown Imperial Lily.
A GERMAN LEGEND.

Inc CTOWn Imperial Lily.
A GERMAN LEGEND.
One of the most stately ornaments of
our gardens In summer is the Imperial
Lily, whose tall slender stem supports its
crown of red dropping flowers, shaded by a
central tuft of graceful emerald leaves. If
you peep within the lovely bell you will
perceive at its base six drops of water,
crystal clear. Remove them gently, SINH
lar ones will instantly appear; take them
away again, they will come back as before.
Whence do they spring? What are they ?
They cannot be dew, the flowers mouth is
bent earthwards, no heaven-dropt moisture
could enter its bell-shaped cup.
Listen, and l will tell you their story.
Eighteen centuries ago, when our Lord
had taken unto His gracious self human
form and walked this earth, our Lily's as
pect was not the same she presents to US
to-day. Her flowers were then of pure
silvery white, and they stood upright, pre-
senting their fair bosoms to the blue eye
of heaven, and to the gaze and Joy of men.
The slender dropping leaves above its cor
oncted head were then indeed a protection
for the tender flowers from the too bolster
Gus play Of the elements, and not mere
futile ornament as they are now. OF the
SIX tearlike drops there was no sign. Still
more than now was the Lily fair orna-
ment in field or dell, and all things named
her beautiful. Thus lovely, pure, and in
nocent, she bloomed in spotless glory in
the garden of Gcthsemane.
Now our Lord liked this shady spot at
the foot Of Mount Olivet. Often and
often, when lie was wearied with the
days teachings, with exhorting the people
to sin no more, but believe when His
tender heart bled for our human woe, lie
would wend His sacred feet to the grove
of shadOwy olive trees, and crossing the
little bridge that spanned the brook of
kedron, rest awhile in the garden of Geth-
semane.
Jesus loved flowers. He saw in them
Gods smile on the earth, and as He trod
the winding paths Of the enclosure, His
eye looked with benign pleasure on the
many bright blossoms growing around,
that bent their heads beneath His gaze in
holy, reverent awe. So many a time had
He passed below the grey olive boug-~p
and not unfrequently had lie beheld witaI
unfeigued delight the pure crown of silvery
bells which the Lily's stem held up to
heaven.
Lily said the grave old Olive tree,
who rarely condescended to conversation
with any but his fellow trees, and had
never before addressed a plant so far be-
meath him in age and condition : Lily,
you are favored above US all; the Master
loves you let me wish you Joy of your
beauty And for once the stern, unap-
proachable tree meant what he spoke 10 an
inferior being
You are the most beautiful of our
number spoke out the modest Violet from
among her shading leaves.
You are, you are" interrupted the for
ward Jasmine, effectually preventing the
Violet from uttering another word for she
was shy, and rarely nerved herself to the
effort of speech.
From this day forth, said the Rose,
will consider my queenly title as low
cred in your favor. You shall be the 10
raj empress. See she went on, turning
her fragrant head to the other flowers.
. does not our sister bear upon her all the
insignia of royalty? Behold, she carries
her flowers crownwise around her stem.
Hail, Empress; hail, Lily Imperial
Hail, hail, exclaimed all the other
plants.
Hail, gravely repeated the Olive.
All was JOY and gladness no shade of
jealousy or strife broke on their peace. AS
for the Lily, she raised her head yet more
proudly heayenwards, expanded her silvery
bells more fully, and merely deigned to
her comrades compliments
by a condescending nod of her central
crested leaves.
Late in the afternoon of that day on
which the flowers had chose the silver
white lily their empress, our Lord en-
tered the garden. He was weary and sad,
and had sought this quiet solitude to COM
nune with His Father, aud seek refresh
ment for His soul, to renew the daily BATH
tie with sin and unbelief. 1t was long
before he paid his wonted attention to the
flowers around.
Meantime whole stream of thoughts
coursed through the Lily's head She was
was the most beautiful of all the gardens
flowers; her sisters had publicly proclaimed
her SO to-day; she felt very proud and
glad. Hoa0 proud and glad, hoto much
her vanity was fattered, she would hardly
have cared to own. But she would prove
to them this evening that they had
not i'll bestowed their honors, that she
knew how to support them with becoming
dignity. 1t was right and fitting the 9TH
er flowers should bend before the Master
but it would not be right that she should
bow her head. She was above the others
in rank she must not be beheld prostratino
herself with them. No, to-day her pure
white cups must boldly meet the Masters
eye; and surely, she considered, would not
that give Him far more pleasure than if
she merely showed Him her bent outward
form, which was not near so fair as her
pure Utmost depths Thus, while our Lord
prayed, was the evil spirit of pride and
vanity reasoning within the LiIy's breast.
When He had ended His petition, He
rose and began to pace beneath the olive
trees, His eyes resting kindly upon the
flowers who bent lowly before Him as He
passed, and sent upwards their choicest.
richest perfumes. Walking farther He
came to the spot where the Lily grew in
her imperial loneliness, and as he drew
near she stifened her stem yet more rigid
y, bore her bells more haughtily, and
when Jesus stood before her, she made M
movement of reverent recognition and de-
7otion.