Evening journal., 1892-04-19
TRAILING ARaUTus.

"When spring unlocks the flowers 70
paint the laughing soil" no messenger
trembling shyly twixt winters chill aud |
summers heat is more welcome than the |
trailing arbutus. prettily named in
science epigna repens Creeping upon the
ground).
In the Northern states II has the name
Of May-h flower from the time Of
It's fragrant bloom. Here, IL comes
earlier, aud this year II came with
Easter when all the religious world
is Joyous with the reeurrent anniversary
Of the Holy Babe who was born to
save the world twenty centuries ago In
Bethlehem.
Modest, coy, but oh so sweet, the
tender tendrils Of the creeping plant put
out their pink and white blossoms along
the hedge rows aud up the hillsides, just
the places where lovers would stroll to
seek It aud to q i've play to those gentle
emotions Of their hearts which the
spring has warmed into glowing life.
The leaves OF the trailing arbutus are
evergreen and the clusters Of fragrant
flowers appear In the axils Of last year 8
leaves on a stem that Is brown and hairy.
This gentle harbinger Of spring is
pleasing TO all the senses; it's eolors are
variegated from brown stems q green
leaves, aoftened and mellowed by the
creamy white Of the blossoms. which
blend into the gradatiOns Of pink like
the exquisite shades Of sea shell, but
without the CLASSY glitter. Everything
about the trailing srbuius is soft, yield.
ing, neutral; there is nothing defined but
its fragrance It Is as tender as a babe F.;
a. coy as a maid II is the babe Of ma
ture's fora which afterward grows to the
luxuriant strawberry, exchanging its de
lights for the sense Of smell to the
berrys delights Of the taste. Il is as
dain,y and timid as a maid, suggestive
ever. changing, delightful. Gliding along
the ground 1t adds more than its share Of
color. grace and beauty to the heath.
from which II springs to adorn and bless
the efforts Of awakening nature.
Sweet spring. full Of sweet days and roses,
A box where sweets compacted lie.
Gives us nothing sweeter and more
chaste than the trailing arbutus. There
are the magnolia with it's magnifcence
Of grand blossoms, showing an opulence
Of white beauty and wasting their frsg-
rance on the heavy air the violet, modest
In it's growth, but, luyuriant in its
masses Of green and purple; the apple
blossom with It's brilliant alternate RED
and white; the peach with It's blushine
red. so like a maldens cheeks; the crocu,
: With its gaudy yellow, but non,
Of them, though all beautiful, at
l tract sympathetic sentiment in 81
J many pleasant ways as this simple
n fra rant. graceful, mAny.oOlored. :beauti
ful and tender little plant that start,
e up at our feet to bless the air and pain
L the ground, Of It's own free will. so gen
:, erously, SO gladly. so full Of the sugges
l. tions Of sight and sense that make If
3 joyous In the springtime.
g From the cares Of life one may turn q
take smell Of this sweet flower and the
dream the hour away looking into tn
y future, or eonjuring up memories Of th
70 past in refreshing oblivion. No man
% soul should be so dead that he cannc
find pleasure In the lessons OF this swes
= flower, this tender little angel whic
{. nature sends to teach health, peace, rs
newed life, Immortality.
er There is volume Of wholesome le
OF sons In It's cadences Of color; in Il
BY freshness Of its pungent perfume. Loo
ut at II, smell It, study It, contemplate Il
~ generous wisdom Of the lows whls
ng clothes such tender. Insignificant lit
We plant with such = wealth Of joy al
ug beauty. That contemplation will eleva
nd any mans soul.