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

The Lily Penitent.

The Lilinra Byzantium was brought to England from Constantinople more than three hundred years ago, and is well known in this country. The story is that the lily, now of a dark flesh color sheeted with blushes, was originally white and very erect upon its stun. It stood in Gethsemane, and was a favorite wijfii Onefvho frequented that garden in the days of His earthly life. The legend says that when He walked there at sunset the flowers all knew Him, and bowed their sweet heads in loving adoration, all but the lily! It kept its white crown proudly erect, and would not bend its crest at anyi presence! The Lord stood still and looked full into the face of the beautiful bells. Each silvery cup began to bend beneath that touching look, and deep blushes came upon them all. Still the gaze was fixed, and glittering drops followed tho glowing suffusion. The Master passed on, and when morning came all the other flowers in the garden tossed their gay heads in the sunny light. But the lily still bent its head, and each little bell was full of penitent tears. Those “fair Orient pearls,” as the poet calls them, remain to this day. They are six in number in each of the hells, and wipe them away as often as we may, they are ever* more replaced until the flower decays. The blush, too, has never fadod from the lily cheeks, and hence, according to the legend, the Crown Imperial (so called because the flowers grow at the top of the stalk and surround it in tho shape of a coronet) carries for all time the acknowledgment of its one pioment of irreverent pride. —Floial World.