228 A VERY OLD ROSE-TREE. 



usual way. I have seen them from a fortnight to 

 three weeks earlier; in 1848 they were in full 

 bloom on May 14th. 



A VEEY OLD ROSE-TREE. 



WHEN at Cologne in July 1857, I heard from a 

 friend residing there, that a rose-tree existed at 

 Hildersheim, which was planted by Charlemagne. 

 I thought it a fable, and most unfortunately 

 passed by Hildersheim without calling to search 

 into the matter. Resting some time at Leipsic 

 with a literary friend, I made further enquiries, 

 and through him have just received the following 

 account from his friend at Hildersheim. The 

 present size and description of this remarkable 

 tree may be relied upon. I give in the following 

 narrative the words, as nearly as possible, of my 

 Hildersheim correspondent, the first part merely 

 legendary : f When Charlemagne had conquered 

 the territory of the original Saxons, several foreign 

 potentates hastened to show him marks of esteem 

 and respect ; among others an ambassador from 

 the Caliph Haroun Alraschid, who, as a symbol 

 of his authority, carried a purple banner on which 

 were embroidered the arms of his sovereign six 

 roses on a golden field. Charlemagne, struck with 

 the homage, planted a rose-tree on the place of 

 reception, to commemorate the event. Louis the 



