The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-12-13

Though the Ions. frosty nights Of the
winter are here.
This month is the dawn of happy New
Yeaf.
Clifford Howard.
January wa. named for the old Italian god
Janus, the deity with two faces, one looking
into the past and the other into the future.
Janus was worshiped as the sun god and
was considered the author Of the year, with
its seasons, months and days. His temples
were built with four equal Sides each side
containing door and three windows. The
doors were emblematic of the four seasons,
and the windows of the three months be-
longing to each.
The snowdrop, which means consolation,
is January's flower, and the garnet, signify
ing constancy, is its gem. Gabriel is the
presiding genius of January.
FEBRUARY.
This cold little month, with its twenty
Is the season of snow with Its fast-heet-
ing seghs,
And dear little Cupid stops on his way
With missives of l0ye on st. Valentines
Day.
Clifford Howard.
February derives its name from the Latin
word februo, to purify, it being customary
for the Romans to observe festivals of pur-
fcation in that month.
The amethyst, emblematic of sincerity, is
the precious stone dedicated to February,
and the primrose, typfying the freshness of
early youth is its flower.
Barchiel rules the fortunes of those born
in this month.
Lord OF all rough winds that blow.
I am March, and ere l go
/ will sing you loud and low.
Nora Hopper.
March is named for Mars, the Roman
god of war. Among the Saxons this month
was known as Lenct, meaning spring, and
this is the origin of our word Lent The
modest violet" is the clustering months
flower, and the bloodstone, signifying cour.
age and fortitude, is its precious stone.
Malchediel is the ruling diety.
APRIL.
April, April.
Laugh thy girllsh laughter,
Then the moment after
Weep thy girlish tears.
William Watson.
April was named from the Latin aperio,
to open, because the flowers open at this
time of the year The Saxons called it
"Eastre' in honor of their goddess of
spring, from which is derived the word
Easter. Charlemagne called it the grass
month"; and this name is yet given it by the
Dutch.
The daisy and the diamond, both EN-
blematic of innocence, are the months flow
er and gem.
Ashmodel is the guardian of the April
born.
In blossoms fair the fields appear
With balmy air sweet May is here.
From the German of Ofer.
May owes its name to the Roman goddess
Maia, the graceful daughter of Atlas and
Pleione.
The hawthorne, emblematic of hope and
the emerald, of faithfulness, belong to May,
while Amriel is the guardian genius.
JUNE
Rapture of birds at dawn, a hush at
All; by my hearts wild beating, it Is
June
Mrs. L. C. Whitson.
June is named in honor Of Juno, wife of
Jupiter, the Queen of Heaven, the guardian
deity of women and the foundress of mar.
riage.
The wild rose and the agate, typifying
simplicity and health, are June's flower
and gem.
Murel is the months own deity.
JULY.
A rustic of corn leaves; a tinkle
OF bells on the hills; a bevy
OF bees where the clover hangs heavy;
A butterfly laundering by
And that is JULY
James Newton Matthews.
July gets its name from the great Roman
general, julius Caesar, who was born on
the 18th day of this month.
The lily, signifying purity, and the ruby,
emblematic of love, belong to July.
Nerchiel is the presiding genius.
AUGUST.
The warm, late, fragrant days OF August,
Drifting into the yesterdays dim sweet
Like loosened rose leaves shaken in the
grass.
Hattie Whitney.
August is named for Augustus Caesar.
The moonstone, which signifies welded
felicity, is dedicated to August. The. old Ro-
mans called this stone "Lunaris" because it
contained the image of the moon, and they
believed it to have the power of curing dis.
eases during the increase of the moon and
that when the moon was on the wane the
possessor of moonstone could foretell fu-
ture events.
The classic poppy, symbolizing the conso-
lation OF sleep, is August's flower and Ham
atel guards the destinies of the August
born.
SEPTEMBER.
September-dreams are in the ssound-