THE UNDERSTANDING TULIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 226, 23 September 1922, Page 20

THE UNDERSTANDING TULIP.

(By F. A. TTPPETTS.)

The tulips were gaudy fellows. Still, they gave the little shrine a cared for | appearance. There they stood, 'between the bronze and mother-of-pearl candlesucks, next to the carved Cross. The altar was draped with a rich blue si'ken material, while upon the floor a prayerrug of beautiful colours lay. It was very quiet in the little chapel at'rer the gay garden, and although the tulips appeared quite stately and digni_?d, they felt very restless. After a long time in the silent place -one brilliant fellow started a conversation with his neighbour. "What is this curious object in the rentro ':"' he cried. "It stands there | undaunted bo-ide our beauty." I 'That is a symbol,'' put in one of the candle.-'licks : "a most respected em-. Hem, as you will find." | Sure enough, many priests and people - **ame to pay their devotions 'before the Cross, and the curious tulip 'became more interested than before. j "Strange ! that this plain token criivs seen pleasure. Why ! My brothers' beauty is far greater." I "Well," 1 said his friend the candlestick, "observe clorely and perhaps you will tome to understand." I So the tulip preened himself in the filtering rays of sunlight, and the rolours of the stained glass fell upon the Cross and illumined it. Meanwhile the tulip watched. Then the tulip felt a great passion to really understand why such a plain thing was ?o powerful. lie bent over the edge of his .bronze vase, nearer and nearer to the Cross. "Perhaps I may get a message," he said to himself. "Who knows ♦" Whether the light behind the Cross was revealed tn the tulip cannot -be told, but he made a low bow until his cau.lv petals touched the bronze, and remained prostrated as if in devotion. The next day an altar attendant came to arrange the flowers. "What a shame this one has a warped stalk." she whispered to her companion. "It spoils the effect." And so saying withdrew the tulip from his vase. "It looks as if it understands." her friend returned slowly. "You are fanciful," smiled the other. "May I have this tulip ?'' inquired she who had imagination. "Of course."

So the tulip left the altar and spent the rest of.his time -beloved floating in a jade bowl in a country house. At silent times he was wont" to tell some foliage there of his previous life in the garden, and of the greater wonder he had seen upon the altar.

THE THISTLE. Xearly everybody knows that the, thistle is the plant chosen vv the Scottish pecple as their emblem. But perhaps everybody does not know the reason. Long, long ago, when the Danes were in the habit of invading Scotland, they agreed to make a midnight attack, contrary to their custom, for hitherto they had regarded hidden dealings as unworthy of brave warriors. That night the Scottish army lay asleep on the heather. The Danes crept along noiselessly and unobserved, and all would soon have been over for their unsuspecting foes, when suddenly a barefooted Danish soldier trod on a thistle, causing him to titter a sharp cry of pain. Instantly the sleepers were awakened, and, falling upon the Danes, defeated them with great, slaughter. Afterwards the King of the Scots felt that he could not do better than honour the plant that had been the means of saving bis crown and his country by placing it on his banners and national arms. That shows that the thistle is a royal plant; and another proof of that is that it formed the private badge of the House of Stuart, whose princes were wont to wear the ''clauran,'' as the thistle is called in the Celtic tongue.

HIDE AND FIND. Oissie. Archibald, and May Have a funny game of play: Here and there, as fancy guides, Everybody hides! Then there's silence, then a shout. When small heads a-t last, peep out All at once—and no one minds — Everybody finds! RIDDLE-ME-REE. A shining wit pronounced of late That water in a-freezing state 7s like an acting magistrate. What was the quib-ble In liis pate? Just ice (justice). Invisible, yet never out of sight. I am. indeed, the centre of delight. In quiet times t help to make thinj right. Yet act as second in the fiercest tight: The letter "I."