Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1884 — The English Daisy. [ARTICLE]

The English Daisy.

Tho daisy is one of the most popular of spring flowers, well known as the embiem of fidelity and constancy. It is the latest blossom of the year, and tho first to reappear with the approach of spring. It!is Connected with the earlier traditions of England, of which wo give the following pretty legend: While the Homans persecuted and put to death the Christians of this country, Saint Druon one day said to his sister, Saint Oile, “Sister, the days of the Inquisition areuponus. T, 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 ns. Thou must leave me, and with them seek a refuger where thou canst pray to God in safety.” Saint Oile 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 the end of autumn, it struck him that, as he pursued liis 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 darkness 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.—Exchange.