36 CANDLEMAS TIDE. 



FEB. 5. St. Agatha, virgin martyr, a.d. '251. 

 St. Adelaide, virgin abbess. 

 St. Avitus, bishop of Vienne. 

 St. Abraamius, bishop of Arbela, m. 

 The Martyrs of Japan. 



Obs. The honor of being the birthplace of St. Agatha is disputed 

 between the cities of Catana and of Palermo. She suffered mar- 

 tyrdom by order of Quintianus about the year 251. There is a 

 hymn in her honor by Pope Damasus, and another by St. Isidore of 

 Seville, in Bollardus, p. 596. 



St. Adelaide, otherwise called Alice, was daughter of Megendose, 

 count of Guelders ; she instituted a nunnery at Bellich on the Rhine 

 of the Order of St. Benedict. 



Primrose Primula verna flowers. 



Lilac Primrose Primula acaulis flowers. 



It is in mild seasons only that these flowers begin now to blow in 

 our gardens, and scantily on warm banks in a wild state. The first 

 is the common wild Primrose, a plant dedicated to St. Agatha in 

 the Ftorilegium ; ^Milton in Lycidas beautifully describes it as dying 

 forsaken. The latter is called the Flower of St. Alice, and seems 

 to be a garden variety, usually multiple and of a lilac colour. There 

 is also a yellowish double variety. Milton's lines are very beautiful, 

 and begin with : 



Bring the rathe "Primrose that forsaken dies. 



Mr. Mayne the Scottish bard calls this plant : 



Lorn tenant of the peaceful glade, 

 Emblem of virtue in the shade. 



The forlorn appearance of the Primrose at this time of year might 

 suggest these simUies : in April Primroses mixed with the Violets 

 have a very gay appearance on our banks. 



