40 



SHROVE TIDE 



FEB. 9. St. Apollonia, virgin, martyr a.d. 249, 



St. Nicephorus, martyr a.d. 260. 



St. Theliau, bishop and c. in England. 



St. Ansbert, archbishop of Rouen in 695. 



St. Attracta, virgin, of Ireland. 



St. Erhard, abbot and conf. of Scotland. 



Ohs. St. Apollonia appears to have suffered martyrdom in the 

 persecutions of Decius at an advanced age. She is recorded to 

 have leaped into the flames kindled for her destruction. 



St. Nicephorus was an inhabitant of Antioch, who volunteered 

 himself a martyr in the third age instead of the apostate Sapricius, 

 who had refused to forgive Nicephorus an injury, and who in conse- 

 quence could not meet death with the firmn ss of a Christian. The 

 whole history of these two men is particularly instructive and enter- 

 taining, and is related by Butler, vol. ii. p. 107. 



St. Attracta was an Irish virgin, who received the veil from 

 St. Patrick. 



St. Thelian was the person who planted the celebrated Avenue 

 between Dole and Cai. He was born near to Monmouth. 



Roman Narcisses Narcissus Romanus flowers. 



In mild seasons this plant is to be found in flower at this time 

 even in the open border, in warm situations, and under shelter ; at 

 all events both varieties of it may bs made to blow in houses. They 

 are brought over together with the Narcissus Italicus from Italy by 

 the Italian warehousemen. They should be planted in pots filled 

 with sand and mould mixed before Christmas, and they will blow 

 by this time, and will soon be succeeded by Narcissus Tazelta and 

 Narcissus Orientalis, and by other bulbous roots which flower at 

 this season in the house. 



It seems doubtful whether the Narcissus of the antients was this 

 flower or not. Accordins; to fable the Naides lamenting the death 

 of Narcissus, 



Instead of him a yellow flower was found, 

 With tufts of white about the button crown'd. 



Trans, of Ovid. 



