The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-04-05
Selett MisrellunlI.
Bird. Legends Of Easter.
"For sa cred.is the household bird
That wears the scarlet stOmacher."

That wears the scarlet stOmacher."
With the approach Of Easter we re-
call that it is our mightiest festival OF
humanity, bearing to each heart which
would "keep the feast" the message OF
self-sacrifice, self-deniaI, brotherly love
and forbearance.
Christ, the Master, the perfect man,
was born Or Christmas Day; the birth
day of His Church took place on that
first Rising Morn when the angel ap-
peared to the women and said, "He is
not here. He is risen!''
Joy, unlimited joy, without shadow
behind, is the story of Christmas, but
for Easter we may suitably recall the
saying of the early Celtic Christmas,
"After sorrow, joy is born!"
Christmas reigns for the child in the
house; Easter calls to the man that the
childish things have passed and gone.
Now is the time for doing, throbbing
life surrounds him.
Sister feasts they are, that cannot
be separated in thought or spirit
feasts that have gathered around them
the traditions, the hallowed associa-
tions, the reverent imaginative stories
of generations of men and women
throughout the succeeding centuries of
Chrstendom.
Primitive folk these were in truth,
knowing nothing at all of our modern
aims, our culture and refinement, our
civilization and ethical advancement,
but none the less supremely ahead of
US in pure imaginative faculty.
Man alone claims the privilege Of
worship at Easter now, and as offering
he brings only the flowers and the
greens OF the earth; but from those
early days we inherit legends blending
together into exquisite harmonious
concord all things animate and inani-
mate in natures world around, all Of
fering their tribute of praise. The
beasts of the field, the birds of the air
and sea, the myriads of creatures with
wings, the creeping things of the earth
all alike joined in Christmas iny or
Easter gladness.
Even the dead wood budded and
filled itself with rcjuvenating sap be-
cause Easter was at hand.
THE CROWN OF THoRNs.
In the Golden Legend and the Leg
ends of St. Brendan and Macldune we
realize how sympathetcally dear to tie
Celtic heart were the songs and wor-
ship Of the many birds. Nor need we
wonder thereat as we recall St. Colum-
ba's favorite S4th Psalm and its story
of the Swallow and the Sparrow within
the Courts of the Lord
What finer text or higher source
were needed by the legend weavers of
primitive days?
Most pathetic of all bird legends is
that OF the robin redbrcast Of Celtic
Brittany; Il story SO universally ac-
cep'el and approved that poets have
ever written Of him as the ''pious bird"
1t was on the day when our Lord
Jesus felt bis pain upon the barbarous
cross of wood. A small and tender
bird which hovcred awhile around
, drew nigh about the seventh hour, and
nestle. d upon the wreath OF Syrian
| thorns; and when the gentle creature
of the air behcld these crue! spikes, the
thirty and three which pierced that
bleeding brow, she was moved with
compassion and the picty Of birds, and
she sought to turn ASIDE if but one OF
those thorns with her futtering wings
and her lifted feet. 1t was in vain.
She did but rend her own soft breast
until blood flowed over her feathers
from the wound.
Then said voice from among the
angels -"ThoL hast done well, sweet