SUMMER MEETING AT BROOKFIELD. 109 



THE MYTHOLOGY OF FLOWERS. 



MARY HOLSINGER, ROSEDALE, KAS. 



From the ancient country of Hellas come to us wonderful myths 

 concerning the gods and goddesses who once ruled the earth. The 

 Hellenes or early Greeks, besides their love for the human-like gods 

 whom they worshipped, had also a passionate love for flowers, which 

 they made typical of every interesting event, public or private. 



In this way many a hero or deity of the dreamy Greeks has become 

 closely associated with the little flower which now blooms contentedly 

 about the practical American's doorway. Many a plain little plant has 

 folded away in its bright young leaves a history or a tender romance 

 which, if known, would redeem it forever from the commonplace. 



Under the title " mythology " let us include not only the legends 

 which are connected with them, but also some of the interesting things 

 which are said and known of a few of our spring flowers. 



The first of the many blossoms which greet the world with the 

 earliest touches of spring green is the snowdrop, a single fragrant 

 flower on a nodding pedicle. A child of the Alps, it receives its name, 

 not from a drop of snow, but from its resemblance to the eardrops 

 worn by the ladies of the sixteenth century. The snowdrop has been 

 dedicated to the Virgin Mary because of a popular tradition which as- 

 serts that the pure meek blossom opens its petals on the second of 

 February, the anniversary of the day on which the Holy Mother took 

 the Son of God to the Jewish temple to present the offering of doves. 

 The "winter's timid child," the "fair maid of February," as it has 

 been happily styled, is emblematic of hope — hope for the coming spring 

 day which it foretells — hope for the sinful world through the blessed 

 son of the Virgin Mary. 



Daffodils are another variety, which, as Shakspeare pleasantly 



says : 



"Come before the swallow dares, and take 

 The winds of March with beauty." 



The daffodil is the flower which was dropped from Pluto's chariot 

 when he was carrying off Proserpine to the infernal regions. Those be- 

 lieving this probably authentic story say further that the name daffodil 

 is but a corruption of " Dis's lily." 



