The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-01-21
The Christmas Rose.


1.-THE Christmas rose" And the hol-
ly and the mistletoe, in the pride OF
their evergreenness which has gar
landed the years of all ages and climes,
looked with disdainful wonder and dis
approval at the modest little Christ
mas rose, which fair fingers had inter-
twined among the sinuous, glossy
green foliage and scarlet white be
ries of Christmas wreath.
THE Christmas rosew And the hol-
ly rustled it's shiny-toothed leaves SO
angrily at the little intruder that one
of its sharpest points pierced the tender
heart Of the Christmas rose, and felt
that 1t was dying. AS 1t lay quiv@-
ing in agony it heard the proud boast
ing of the naughty evergreens and
trembled at the scornful glances which
they bestowed upon the humble little
Christmas flower. For they boosted
lineage dipping back into the darkness
of pagan antiquity.
"I-why, have verdured the winters
of ages" said the holly. II have known
all climes, all religions. In my hardi-
ness and strength have wreathed my
shining leaves and bright red berries
round columns and pillars which long
since have fallen into ruins and crumo-
led away. / have trailed my enduring
beauty through centuries, which nave
long since cycled into their past tense.
| have decorated the affairs Il all relig-
ions with my brightness-the pagan
temples of the ancient sun worshipers,
the temples of the Greek god Jove, the
temples of the Roman Saturn. was
baptized into christianity in the BLOOD
of the early Christians and my scarlet
berries took on a ruddier hue. was
at one time both pagan and Christian,v
bedecking the pagan festivities OF the
Romans and at the same time screen
ing with my thick clustering branches
the worship of the Christians.
"I-oh, l am enduring; one OF the
earth's indispensables; citizen OF the
world; cosmopolitan of the universe'
Even you," and he turned TO the
lovely, pale mistletoe. "even you can
not boast such worldwide popular
ityw
In the heart of the mistletoe arose
the mighty Celtic pride OF ancestry
arose the mysticisms Of the olden
Druid days of ancient Wales, and In
lofty scorn she replied: Although in
modern thought have been associated
chiefly with Christmas festivities and
kisses, yet among my kinsmen, the an
cient Celts, l have ever been held sa'
cred; the mystical plant of the Druids
and the principal object of their vener-
alton; and when clinging to an oak,
was priced beyond rubies and pearls.
81 am Christmas evergreen now, bur
in the olden days my gala day was New
Years Day, when the great Druidicai
festival of the Welsh was celebrated.
My cutting was the most solemn relig-
ious rite of the year. On this occa-
sion the ancient Druids, habited IN
their white robes, wearing long Dearos
and carrying wands, walked in solemn
PROCESSION toward the oak on which l,
the mystic plant, was growing. one
of them assembled into the tree, and cut
nv clinging branches with goldepK
knife while another stood below to
catch me as fell. And then" and she
lifted her white berries in great pride,
land then two milk-white bulls were
sacrificed in my honor, and great feast
ing and rejoicing were held In wor-
shin OF the mystic mistletoe,' and sne
looked with utmost complacency at the
holly, and cast a whitening glance al
the shrinking Christmas rose. WINE
YOU" turning to the holly, have pleas
ed the eye Of man with your beauty
I have given pleasure to his heart
How many times have my branches
thrilled. and my berries trembled with
the shock of that sweetest kiss, given
under my magic boughs? have been
at once the peril and delight of beauty;
and the golden opportunity OF chival-
nv: and in the heart of both have
been frequently blessed" and with an
air of supreme satisfaction that she
had been instrumental in creating hap
piness she ceased speaking.
Yes, they were both aristocrats! Ana
they turned a look of such calm dis
dainful scrutiny upon the now thor
oughly humbled Christmas rose that 1t
blushed rosily in its humiliation; and
to this day it has retained its modes
ty and pink tips of its blushing petals.
And seeing its timidity they scorn-
fully questioned its right to mingle its
loveliness with their leaves and ber-.
ries; and the Christmas rose breathed
forth it's longings to become a Christ,
mas evergreen.
1T was. so chill and dark in the
earths bosom; but one day a great
trembling came upon the earth, and in
the assure above my head l saw tf17
golden light; and the light drew me
ever toward it, until at last had left
nv dark hiding place and looked upon
the fair white world; and heard the
singing of carols, which they told me
we're Christmas carols, and heard the
words Christ, and meek and lowly,'
and somehow l was not afraid to be
abroad in the world; for it seemed then
to be filled with gentleness and the