TO TIIE ROSE OF GETHSEMANE. 
The rose from which this drawing was taken, was picked iu the Garden of Gethsetnane. 
pressed and dried, and after remaining in this state several years, presented to the author. 
On immersing it in water, the petals became softened, and were placed in their original 
position ; those in the center retained their beautiful color, as here exhibited, and the fragrance 
was like that of a fresh-blown rose. 
Fair Rose of Gethsemane ! nursed by the sod, 
Which drank the hot tears of the sad Son of God, 
When o’er the Brook Kedron, His weary steps led, 
And those whom He loved, all forsook Him and fled; 
When Judas betrayed Him, and Peter denied 
The belov’d of His Father, God crucified. 
Beholding, I wonder, thou beautiful thing, 
Such fragrance and loveliness ever could spring 
From that cold dewy garden, trampled and wet 
With soldiers’ rude feet and Christ’s agonized sweat, 
Which like drops of blood trickled down to the ground, 
While timid disciples lay sleeping around. 
•A 
And much do I wonder that in his distress, 
His lips move to curse not, but only to bless ; 
That beauty still thrives, where such agony knelt, 
From ground that had witnessed the sorrow he felt. 
Though the fig-tree he cursed, he prayed for his foes, 
And where thorns grew for Him, for them blooms the rose. 
I look at thee weeping, thou innocent flower, 
Fair silent memento of that dreadful hour. 
He saw with a sorrow God only could feel, 
The rabble blasphemers iu mockery kneel ; 
His weeping eye saw what no mortal could see, 
His own wounded side, on that ignoble tree. 
( 87 ) 
