The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-12
SPRING FLOWERS.
Stories Eritertwined Ia a Number of
Popular Kinds

Stories interviewed In n Number of
Popular Kinds.
The daffod1, or 'dafldowndilly," other
wise called Lent lily" is sometimes
COMPOUNDED with "asphodel'' though it
belongs to distinct family. The legend
connected with this flower is that the
goddess Persephone, wandering over the
meadows Of Sicily, plucked white lilies.
which she woye into a garland for her
hair; she then fell asleep, and was dis
i covered by Pluto, god of the Internal
regions, who bore her away. At his
touch the white flowers turned to burning
gold, which color mas been theirs ever
since.
Our word daffodil' is derived from the
old English name "affodile," which means
''cometh early" There is a graceful ap-
propriat eness about the name, for the
fresh gold Of the daffodil is specially
welcome after the long and dreary winter
time
Even the daffcdil has its superstition.
It is considered in many places most un-
lucky to bring into house the first DAFT
fodil of the year. If a single daffodil is
brought in or left lying in the house it
is said there will be no luck that year.
THE ANEMONE.
In oIden times the anemone Cor wind
wind) was considered to possess valuable
medicinal properties and people We're
ordered to gather the first bloom they
saw and treasure it a safeguard
against disease, and in case of illness to
apply the dried blossoms to the affected
part
Pliny tells US that the anemone Is called
the ''windflower' because it only opens
when the wind is blowing, whilst others
ha
slightest breeze scatters its delicate pet
ais. The old legend that the flower sprang
from the tears sned by Venus at the
death of Adonis is almost too well known
to bear repetition:
Tears plenteous as his blood she pours
But gentle flowers are born and bloom
From every drop that falls upon the
ground;
And where a tear has dropped wind
flower blows.
CROCUS AND PRIMROSE.
The Austrian peasants have super
stitution that the crocus must only be
gathered by strong men or robust young
girls, as it has tendency to draw away
the strength.
A curious superstition exists IN regard
to the primrose. 1t is considered most
unlucl<y to take less than handful OF
primroses into farmers house last 1t
should bring ill-luck upon his broods or
young poultry.
According 10 one version of the tradi
ton, if the number brought into house
be less than thirteen, 1T Is said that no
hen or goose will hatch more eggs dur
ing the year than tho number Of prim-
roses brought in.
So firmly is this belief estab. shed in
the minds of some that serious qrarrels
have arisen by a neighbours chila t3kipg
one primrose into a house, 81 tHat the
hens should only hatch one chicken o t
of each set Of eggs.
THE DANDELION.
The dandeiion, which enlivens the fie, Is
before the buttercup appears, has its va
rious names also. It's name, which Is
derived from the French 'dent du lion"
s0ion's teeth), is supposed by some to re-
fer to The leaf, which is sharply inSent-
ed Others say it is borrowed from the
sheraldic lion' whose teeth were of gold.
children call it '.puff-balp or "dandelion
clock" and profess to tell the time by
blowing the down off 1t and counting
how many remain.
The ood-sorrei with its dainty white
bells family streaked with purple, has
two distinctive names In Wales it goes
by the fancifll title Of fairy be Is. as
ii is believed TO ring 4 merry peal when
the fairies hold their moonlight revels