














































THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 


















46 
At the Floral games at Thoulouse a golden 
Amaranth was the prize of the lyric poet. 
There are sad, even awful memories 
hanging round some plants. From the 
wood of the Aspen the Cross was said to 
have been made; and in remembrance of 
the fact, the awed tree has trembled ever 
since, and is the emblem of damentation and 
Jear. 
On the Elder-tree Judas is said to have 
hanged himself; with its juice the Romans 
were wont to stain the face of the image of 
Pan. 
The dark stains on the green leaves of the 
Arum are said to be eternal records of the 
fact that it grew beneath the Cross, and was 
stained by the Redeemer’s blood. 
The Passion-flower was worn on the brow 
of the early Christian martyrs, and was 
fondly believed to represent by its petals the 
twelve Apostles, and to hold in its bosom a 
cross and the cruel nails. Surely, it is rather 
an emblem of victorious faith than of super- 
Stition. 


