Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-12-22
The Mystic Thorn
Adapted from Traditional Sources

Adapted from Traditional Sources
"Three hawthornes also that groweth in Werall
Do burge and bere creme leaves at Christmas
AS fresshe as other in May"
It was Christmas day in the year '63 The autumn
coors of red and gold had long since faded from the hills
and the trees which covered the island valley of Gaston-
bury the Avalon Appletree isle of the early Brtons,
bare and eafless The spreading, gasske waters
encrcng it round about cleaned family in the pale af
ernoon light of the winters day. The light fell also
the the silver stems of the willows and the tall flags
and bending reeds and osers which bordered the
island. Westward the long ranges of hills running
ward were purple in the distance and their tops were
partly hidden by the misty white clouds which rested
lightly upon them To the south sharply and abrupt
ly a high pointed hill, the tor of Glastonbury.
It nearing the sunset hour when little band Of
men in pilgrim garb: approaching from the west and
climbing the long hly ridge within sight of this
isle of rest Twelve pilgrims there in ALL in dress
and appearance very unlike the farhaired Brtons who
at that time dwe in the land One he who led the way
old His hair white and his long, white
beard fell upon his breast but he tall and erect and
bore no other signs of age In his hand he carried
stout hawthorn staff.
The men were climbing slowly up the hill, for they
all weary with long travelling And here at the
init of the ridge they stopped to look out the wooded
hills, the W1despreadng waters and the grassy island
with its leafless thckets of oak and alder Sitting down
to rest they spoke to another of their long journey
ing from the fardstant land of Palestine and of their
hope that here their pilgrimage might have end
Those who with him called their leader Joseph
of Armathea. He it who had been known among
and just" and who, when the Saviour crucifed
Calvary had given his sepuchre to receive the body Of
the Lord.
From the tomb upon the third day came the risen
Saviour but the people, thinking that Joseph had stolen
away the body seized and imprisoned him chamber
where there window. They fastened the and
put seal upon the lock and placed before the door
to guard it. Then the priests and the Levtes contrved
to what death they should put him. but when they sent
for Joseph to be brought forth he could be found
though the seal still upon the lock and the guard be
fore the door,
The disciples of Joseph they gathered about their
fire Of evening often told how at night he prayed
the prison chamber had been filled with light brighter
than that of the and Jesus himself had appeared to
him and had led him forth unharmed to his house
Ar1mathea.
And sometimes they told how again imprisoned he
had been fed from the Holy Cup from which the Saviour
which Joseph had caught the blood of his Master when
he the cross and how he had been best with such
heavenly visions that the passed and seemed to him
naught
Now after certain time he had been released from
prison. but there were people who still doubted him and
with his friends, Lazarus and Mary Magdalene and
Philip and others, he had been driven from Jerusalem
The small vessel without rudder SAIL in which
they had been cast adrt the Mediterranean had
at last safety to the coast of Gau And for many years
since then had Joseph wandered through the land carry
ing ever with him two precious relics the Holy Grail and
that spear wherewth the Roman pierced the side
OF Christ Now at last with chosen band of disciples
he had reached the ittle-known island of the Brtons
Landing from their little boat in the early morn on
coast,
Joseph gave blessing to the God of heaven in lowly
chanted prayer Then "over the brow of the seaward
hi they had passed, led by invisible hand and sing
ing they went All day through dark forests and
reedy swamps they had made their and at night
fall, tired and wayworn they rested the rdgy hill
which has since been known by the of Weary
all.
During the long days march they had seen but few
of the people of the land and these had held aloof.
Now, suddenly, the silence was broken by loud cries
and shouts and groups of the native Britons wild and
uncouth IN appearance their hanaked bodies stained
blue with wood coming from different direc-
tions up the hill They armed with spears hatch
cts of bronze and other rude weapons of oden warfare
and, they rapidly nearer their threatening
pect and menacng cries startled the pilgrim band. Rs-
ing hastily, though they would ee the looked in
terror, toward another. Joseph alone showed
knelt in prayer upon the hillside.
Then, thrusting his thorny staff into the ground be-
side him and raising both hands toward heaven, Joseph
Master, Christ.
This staff hath borne me long and WE'LL,
Then spake that saint divine
Over mountains and over plain,
On quest of the prO1nise-sign;
For aye let it stand in this western land
And God do no more to
If there ring not out from this realm about
Tbi gloria, Domino. -
His voice ceased and the rose from their knees
looking eXpectanty for the heavenly sgn but ready if
But stiffness had again settled the hill Only a
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