Hallowe’en to Candlemas 
was called the “ Rose of Love.’’ But, after Adam and 
Eve were cast out of the Garden, their grief was such at 
leaving all the flowers, that the angels were allowed to give 
them the “ Rose of Love ” to take with them into the 
flowerless waste white with snow. This is the Alsatian 
Legend of the Hellebore : 
A little shepherdess, ’tis said, 
When the shepherds came to pray 
By the Infant Saviour’s bed, 
Came along with them that day. 
When the Magi Kings drew nigh, 
With their gifts from Eastern land, 
Little shepherdess did sigh, 
That no gift she had in hand. 
Soft unnoticed rain her tears 
Down her little wistful face ; 
No one sees her, no one hears, 
Sobbing in that crowded place. 
From the far-off purpling sky 
To her Angel Gabriel came. 
“Little maid, why dost thou cry ? ” 
And he called her by her name. 
“To the Infant Jesu there 
Nothing can I bring ; I’m poor ; 
But for Him yet do I care, 
I can only love the more. 
Flowers at His feet I’d lay, 
Roses would I bring, but now 
Spring is very far away, 
And the ground is white with snow.” 
Softly on the saddened child, 
With her sorrow-clouded eyes, 
Then the Angel Gabriel smiled, 
“ I am come to help thee. Rise.” 
Forth into the gathering night, 
See, he leads her by the hand ; 
Round him glows a halo bright, 
Lighting up the snowy land. 
Speaks a word to frost-bound earth. 
Wakes the flowers where they rest, 
Straightway then there spring to birth 
Roseate flowers on her breast. 
57 
