bo 
who 
we) 
and 

wily 
REWARD OF VIRTUE. 
A GARLAND OF ROSES. 
Let us crown ourselves with roses ere they be 
withered. SOLOMON’S SONG. 





cate At Salency, in France, there is a festival 
of roses, instituted by St. Medard, bishop of 
Noyon. There is an annual assemblage of 
young people of both sexes, who elect for their 
queen of the day that maiden who is most 
worthy (and her worth must consist in the 
practice of social and domestic virtues); then 
they crown her amidst loud rejoicings, and with 
solemn ceremony. The simple splendour of 
those flowers, which are the crown of innocence, 
is at once its reward, encouragement, and 
emblem. It isa gentle ambition, whose utmost 
aim is a garland of roses.. Chaucer says— 











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pant And everich had a chapelet on her hed 
lt} Makid of goodly floures white and red. 
the Roses seem to have been used in garlands 
ttri- amongst the ancient Egyptians; for we read that 
aady when Ptolemy and Cleopatra entertained Cesar, 
pro- and the noble Romans who attended him, 
With wreathes of nard the guests their temples bind? 
And blooming roses of immortal kind. 
ROWE’S LUCAN. 




R 2 







