Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1907-08-22
TWO ROSES.

The sun shone from the East. an.
-nouncing the dawn of a new day. Its
rays spread over the earth carving
light and heat to all its creatures. a
rosebud opened its leaves, swelled.
unfolded, and manifested its beauty
to tie world.
AS the sun ascended i'm the sky. a
passing sage heard the rose whisper
ng to itself. and paused to listen.
The petals blushed at his approach
and the sweet voice said: How
beautiful 1 am! This harmony of
form, this delicacy of color. this aura
OF sweet fragrance pouring from INV
neart. by all these acknowledge
praise to the Giver of Beauty, for they
all show forth the One Power which
is formless and impersonal, but every
where and omnipotent. I thank the
sun, my creator. that his power has
entered my being, unfolded nv facuI.
tes. and made me one of his expires.
sions OF beauty. That power dwells
"itnln me, and 1 am become one of
Is temples. IL is in my sub-con-
seriousness. and more and more. as
my beauty ripens and my leaves un-
loid' DO L become conscious that I am
one Win IL. and fulfilling the destiny
vi service Tor which I was created.
cannot be thankful enough that +
am thus permitted to be a blessina
TO the world"
Then said the sage: what is ,b;s
power which you manifesto, D,
Modestly the rose replied. IT am an
expression of Light which Is the
spirit OF the Sun, my maker"
You are blessed indeed. Wisely
nave you answered. said the sage
and went his way with a THANKFUL
heart, rejoicing in that beautiful truth
and manifestation.
The sun had reached its zenith
when the traveller came to another
rose blooming red in the strong Iigbt
AS ne offered greeting. it proudly
reared It's rosy face and said: BE
mold my beauty! 1t Is all from with.
In myself. / am the One Power. the
universal power which is all. am
all. and all Is me! I ann have
entered into consciousness of INV
suD-consciousness, and see-how
nave developed myself to show forth
my fragrance and beauty"
Tnen said he: Praise be to the
glorious Sun for his generous bounty
unto you!"
Quick answered the rose: 'Tbere
Is no Sun. only the One Power which
is within me. I am the Sum-
me wise one stood in silence: he
looked at the rose, then to the sun
glowing in the height. How can
that be?" said he. Il clearly nor.
ceive the sun, but IL Is not Won,
also perceive the rays pouring from
It's throne and manifesting its power.
without the sun they would not he
OUT they are not the sun itself. You
need the sun. but II needs not Won
IL Is unique, single. nm.
divided, unrivaled; II is independent
OF you. while you are dependent upon
IL IL descends not from it's majesty
IN ,ne heavens to obey your will Your
RED and gold. your fragrance and form
are put for a little time. Before
you were called into existence n
snone unchangeable: when You shall
laoe and cease. II will still shine the
same: no cloud OF grief will veil its
. ace LOT your departure. IL Is true
.nae you We're created by the sun.
whose hght was your father and the
warm earth your mother. while air
ana dew nourished you to rosy bean.
~, put were you to be separated from
ei.ner father or mother. you would
no longer be. How then can you be
.nat sun whose radiance and beauty
cease not, but endure from age to
me rose was silent The suns
rays blazed from the summer sky: a
not breeze blew-and passing by. tore
on petal. then another. and another
ieli-till on the ground lay scattered
All the boosted beauty Of the flower.
Looking down upon the dismantled
stalk, upon the curled and whitening
leaves, the wise one said: How
soon Is vanity rewarded! Before the
face Of the sun-modesty Is becoming.
even In a rose" Thornton Chase