The broad ax., 1898-02-26
The Christmas Rose.


lneir eterBreenneSS which has gar
landed the years OF all ages and chimes.
looked with disdainful wonder and dis
approval at the modest little Christ
mas rose. which fair fingers had inter
twined among the sinnous, glossy
green foliage and scarlet white ber-
raes OF Christmas wreath.
The Christmas rosel'' And the hol-
" rustled its shiny-toothed leaves 20
angrily at the little intruder that one
OF Its sharpest points pierced the tender
heart or the Christmas rose, and II felt
that II was dying. As 1t lay CULVER
ing In agony 1t heard the proud boast
Ing Of the naughty evergreens and
rembled at the scornful glances which
they bestowed upon the humble little
Christmas flower. For they boosted a
lineage dipping back into the darkness
OF pagan antiquity.
I-why, l 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 crumb-
led away. / have trailed my enduring
beauty through centuries, which have
long since cycled into their past tense.
have decorated the affairs Of 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
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, am enduring; one OF the
earth's indispensables; a citizen OF the
world; e cosmopolitan Of the universe!
Even you," and he turned TO the
1oSeiy, pale mistletoe. even you can
not boast such worldwide popular
ity!"
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 AID
kisses, yet among my kinsmen, the an
cient Celts, / 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, but
Ia the olden days my gala day was Rs'E
Iear's Day, when the great Druidical
festival Of the Welsh was celebrated.
My cutting was the most solemn rellg-
iou3 rite of the wear. On this occa-
sion the ancient Druids, habited in
their white robes. wearing long boards
and carrying wands, walked In solemn
procession toward the oak on which i,
the mystic plant, was growing. One
Of them assembled into the tree, and cut
my cl,aging branches with a golden
knife, while another stood below to
catch .ue as fell. And then" and she
lifted her white berries in great pride,
''and then two milk-white bulls were
sacrificed in my honor, and great feast
ing and rejoicing were held in wor-
ship of the mystic mistletoe." and she
looked with utmost complacGncy at the
holly, and cast a whitening glance at
the shrinking Christmas rose. While
you" turning to the holly, have pleas
ed the eye Of man with your beauty,
1 have given pleasure to his heart.
How many times have my branches
thrilled, and my berries trembled with
the shock of that sweetest kiss, giysa
under my magic boughs? have been
at once the peril and delight Of beauty;
and the golden opportunity of chival-
~; and In the heart Of both have /
been frequently blessed" and with an
air of supreme satisfaction that she
had been instrumental in creating nap
pIntaSs she ceased speaking.
Yes. they were both aristocratsi And
they turned a look of such cain. dis
dainful scrutiny upon the now thor
oughly humbled Christmas rose that it
blushed rosily in its humiliation; and
to this day 1t 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
loneliness with their leaves and ber-
r,es; and the Christmas rose breathed
iortl It's longings to become Christ
mas evergreen.
sit was so chill and dark In the
earth's bosom; but one day a great
trembling came upon the earth. and In
the fissure above my head / saw the
golden light: and the light drew me
ever toward 1t. until at last had left
my dark hiding place and looked upon
the fair white world; and heard the
singing Of carols. which they told me
were Christmas carols. and heard the
words Christ. and meek and lowly.'
and somehow ! was not .afraid TO be
abroad In the world: for II seemed then
to be filed with gentleness and the
spirit Of love. And my heart opened
70 the beauty and love Of life and !
gave to the Christmas time a fair
ar-,ar. and oua dav a Christian