144 THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN 



The legend of the Glastonbury Thorn should be 

 well known to all those interested in flower lore: 



After Our Lord's Resurrection, the friends of 

 St. Joseph of Arimathea urged him to go to another 

 land, for they were afraid that his life would be in 

 danger by reason of the hatred that the Jews bore 

 him. So St. Joseph set sail, taking with him eleven 

 brethren, to journey to other lands, and tell the 

 people about Our Blessed Lord. As they journeyed 

 they were greatly tossed and buffeted by the waves, 

 and came through many perils, till they were guided 

 to that fair spot in the West of England which 

 men call the Isle of Apples, or " Inis Avallon," 

 because fruit was growing wild everywhere in the 

 rich soil. This isle, though now surrounded by dry 

 land, was once a true island, and another name for 

 it was the " Island of the Blessed." 



Here it was that, after weary journeyings, the steps 

 of St. Joseph and his companions were stayed. 



They landed at the northern side of a hill, which 

 is called " Weary All Hill," because St. Joseph and 

 his followers were so tired that they sat down to rest 

 there. But first, St. Joseph bade them all fall on 

 their knees to give thanks to God for having led 

 them to such a pleasant land after all the perils 

 they had gone through. And St. Joseph, after a 

 little time, looking at the wondrous beauty of the 

 fields and flowers, started chanting: " Benedicite 

 omnia opera," and the brethren all joined in, when, 

 lo, as they reached the verse " Oh all ye green 

 things upon the earth, bless ye the Lord," the dry 

 hawthorn staff which St. Joseph had stuck into the 

 ground began to bud, putting forth tender green 

 shoots. And as they sang, the green buds grew and 



