LEGENDS OF '' SAINTLY FAME " 155 



came one day to worship the Christ-child as He lay 

 in His manger-throne. And as she kneels there, 

 suddenly her eyes fill with tears, and a great sadness 

 weighs down her heart, as she realises that she has no 

 present to give the Holy Babe. 



Then St. Gabriel appears, and speaks to the 

 little maid: 



" ' Tell me, my little one — Why do you weep ? 

 Is it because He's so fast asleep ? 

 See ! I will wake Him/ and Gabriel smiled, 

 As he kissed the face of the heavenly Child." 



But the little girl amidst her tears explains to 

 St. Gabriel that it is because she has no gift for the 

 Holy Child, not even a few flowers. 



*' Then Gabriel answered, ' Come, child, with me. 

 The flowers you wish for you soon shall see '; 

 And he led her forth to a place most fair. 

 Where sweet blossoms scented the sunlit air. 



" She smiled to the angel in glad delight. 



And filled her hands with the blossoms white; 

 Then ran with her burden of roses sweet, 



And laid them all down at the Christ-child's feet." 



Flower Legends of the Passion. 



In Chapter XV. a Sicilian legend is recorded 

 which condemns the broom as a traitor, and sad to 

 say there is another legend which associates the 

 broom with the Passion of Our Lord, and again it 

 plays the traitor's part. 



This legend tells us that as He was praying in the 

 Garden of Gethsemane a broom bush which was 

 growing near started to make such a crackling noise 



