The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-09-18
Legends of the Forget-me Not.

Almost every flower has connected with il
some story or legend, originating either from
fancied rfsemblances or from circumstances
in which the flower has played a leading
part Some OF these legends are weird and
strange. others light aud fanciful, but nearly
all pertain to love.
Flowers are used as symbols expressing a
Hover language; there are pansies for
thought; yew for sorrow; syringa for men,
DRY, and then the tender forget-me-not,
which is essentially the lovers flower In
Itself, with its tiny petals rejecting the azure
of heaven, the faint pink caught from the
summer sunset or the pure white. symbol of
purity. the flower is especially attractive,
and the very name, forget-me-not, has so
sweet significance that when presented by
some youth to the lady of his love, it invari-
ably causes rising blush to spread over the
fair cheek.
1t is not strange, then. that with its color
and name 1t should have legends connected
with 1t, nor that the subjects of these legends
should be love. Doubtless there are many
connected with ''this tiny flower with heart
of gold aud petals Of light blue" Two es-
pecially come to mind.
The first has been beautifully set to rhy me
and relates the circumstances under which
the flower received its name.
Tw2joyers engaged in low, sweet con-
yersatlon walk along hand in hand, unmind-
mi OF where they are wandering, living in
the world Of love. Suddenly the maiden
looking sees, there close beside them, bold
Cliff OF gray stone which seemed to pierce the
sky, then to slope abruptly to the sea. whose
restless waves beat never ceasing against its
base. Springing out from jagged seam in
the rock, smiling there so daintily, she spies
a tnft of fair, blue flowers. Seeing these and
the half spoken wish in her eyes, the ardent
lover starts forward, exclaiming, ''Pll get
them for tiny sake!' Over the rocks he
far out, plucks the flowers. The tuft to
which he firmly holds gives way, and, with
out a sound, he drops down, down, into the
dark water below, which seems to rise and
meet him, and then dance with glee as the
white, stricken face Of the maiden gazes
spellb0und on the cruel water
Rising on the surface, the drowning lover
throws a knot of flowers toward the shore
exelaimng ''forget-me-not," and with last
fond lonk sinks from sight to rise no more,
clasping in his hands a few Of the dearly
bought blossoms.
SO they call it the forgetme-not,
SO loves chosen color is sky-blue,
SO tits said to be with magic fraught,
10 which fond lovers only hold the clew.
Another legend coming from the laurel GOV
cred mountains OF New Hampshire, Is some-
what as follows: - -
A wayfarer trudging along the rocky street
tired and weary, threw himself down beside
q sparkling mountain brook to rest and re-
fresh himself. There he saw, growing amid
the fresh green grass, a tiny, blue flower as
yet unknown to him. Charmed with the dis
c0very, he made inquiries and learned that
the flowers were called forget-me-nots and
had sprung up to show a lovers fond love
and the broken heart of the maiden.
Long years ago young man deeply In love
with fair girl sent as a token of his affec-
ton beautiful bunch ofrare flowers. Deep
in the heart of the bunch, where none but a
lovers eye might see it., was tiny three
cornered note, telling of his love and implor-
ing her. liz she in any degree returned his af-
lection 70 wear certain flower that night
upon her breast. Evening came and with it
the maiden, but his flower was not there to
reward his anxious gaze-but in its place
another shone upon her breast. Without a
word of entreaty or explanation, the broken
hearted lover sought another land and other
joys, while the poor girl, broken-hearted, too
slowly and sadly languished and finally died
with the name Of her absent lover on her lips.
The Inflated bouquet was found dried and
crumbling where the girl in despair had
thrown'it when he lover appeared faithless.
Here they found them, and springing up
Just where they lay were these tiny blue
towers and In the bouquet. just where
placed by the loving hands. was the note
which had never met the eyes of the maiden.
These flowers were called forget-me nots,
for the heart of a lover spoke from the note
Whlle Lne MOWERS were falling to decay, and
from their love sprang these flowers which
are destined to be of such sweet significance
to lovers.
Other legends there are, as many as there
are givers and receivers of flowers, and each
has its tender memories. Some have been
told and handed down from generation to
generation, while others are locked deep in
the breast. never to be shown to mortal eve.
there TO live and there to die
Many faded flower or leaf is treasured
and to the loving heart of the keeper is truly
a forget-meinot. Hf