GUELDER ROSE. 



pleasing- addition to our groves with the lilac, the laburnum, 

 and the crimson thorn. Under cultivation, the corollas of the 

 flowers have expanded to almost as large a size as those of the 

 radiating ones in the wild plant, and the cymes have become 

 globose, whence it has obtained the common name. It is 

 thus, as it were, possible to provide a snowball at Midsummer 

 in payment of quit-rent to the sovereign, by the noble holder 

 upon whom such terms are said to have been imposed. 



The following legend accounts for the origin of the Guelder 

 Rose. 



A young damsel, scarcely fifteen years of age, died. Her 

 spirit hovered about her dwelling when in life. She could 

 not resolve to abandon, even for celestial regions, the fields 

 she had so dearly loved. Of a sudden her guardian angel 

 appeared to her. Desirous of fulfilling her wishes, he asked 

 whether she would like to be transformed into a flower, and 

 gave her the choice as to its kind. "Then," said he, *'you 

 will live in the garden or the meadow ! " and looking round 

 upon the difTerent flowers of the land, added, "Would you 

 wish to be a tulip 1 " " No," she said, " for the tulip has no 

 fragrance." '' A lily 1 " '' The lily elevates herself above 

 other flowers." *' A rose t " '' She bears thorns which cause 

 pain." ''A splendid camellia.?" "No, no," suddenly ex- 

 claimed the spirit of the young damsel; "but, since it is per- 

 mitted me to make my choice, I should like to be a Guelder 

 Rose." "What!" cries the angel in astonishment, "do you 

 desire to be in bloom when all nature seems dead t Think 

 of the icy vvinds of winter ; they will drive against you, and 

 will die without having felt the caresses of the gentle 



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