Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1884 — The English Daisy. [ARTICLE]

The English Daisy.

The daisy is one of the most popular of spring flowers, well known as the emblem of fidelity and constancy. It is the latest blossom of the year, and the first to reappear with the approach pf spring. It is connected with the earlier traditions of England, of which we give the following pretty legend r While the Romans persecuted and put to death the Christians of this country, Saint Druon one day said to his sister, Saint Olle, “Sister, the days of the Inquisition are upon us. I, a priest, must die at my post, and without fear or murmuring await the death of a martyr. But thou, my child, canst not with thy sisters incur the dangers that I see lie before us. Thou must leave me, and with them seek a refuge where thou canst pray to God in' safety.” Saint Olle refused at first, then yielded to her brother’s wishes, and left the country. At the end of a year the persecution had ceased, and the good Bishop thought he might with safety urge his sister’s return. This was not easy at first, as he did not know where she had' found a refuge. Full of confidence in the Almighty, he went in search of her.; and took the first straight path that lay before him. Although it was now thej end of autumn, it struck him that, as, he pursued his way, little tufts of flowers showing yellow centers, surrounded,' by a crown of white rays appeared to: spring up out of the earth before him, shining even as stars to dispel the dark-, ness of his night. He followed the way shown him by these star-shaped flowers, and after nine days’ wandering reached a desert spot, with many hid-ing-places, where at length he found his sister. Since then the daisies are said to be seen on the earth at all seasons. — Exc h ange.