Forget-me-Not. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2331, 3 November 1898, Page 44

Forget-me-Not. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— On page 41 of your last week's issue appeared a set of verses on the "Forgefr-me-Nofc." Having seen something like them "before, I looked over the few books that I have likely to contain . such, and found, in Sketch XX'i'of "Kelson's British Library" (published more than 30 years ago), "Rambles of a Naturalist, a poem on the same subject, which, with connecting prose, may prove somewhat interesting to your readers. "When Miriam's verses are read side by side with Bishop Mant's, it will be seen that hers form a very fair alternative setting of the same story. I have seen also a rather antique version^somewhere, of which I believe I have a copy. If I do not send it next week it will be because I cannot now lay my hands on it. After discussing the beauty, value, habitat, and history of several flowers, with sometimes an accompaniment of quoted poetry, the sketch proceeds as follows: — "You styled my blue violets insignificantlooking weeds, Thomas," said William. "What will you say to this one, which is even smaller ?" "Ah! I know that well," William replied, "the forget-me-not; but that is a pretty little weed, or flower, rather, I suppose you call it. I remember once examining it very closely before, owing to hearing it very much admired, and it really is beautiful if one looks close enough into it. But, pray, now, can you tell me why that little flower should be called for-get-me-not, more than any other?" "Now that I think of it, I am not sure that I cannot give you a reason for its name, though I will not vouch for its being the true one. It rests, however, on no less authority than that of Bishop Mant; and if you like to take it for what it is worth, here it is, as well a3 I can remember: THE FORGE'J-ME-ITOT. "Together they sate by a -river's side, A knight and a lady gay, And they watched the deep and eddying tide Round a flowery islet stray. > "And 'Oh for that flower of brilliant hue,' Said then the lady fair, 'To grace my neck with the blossoma blue And braid my mvt-brown hair II 11I 1 "The knight has plunged in -the Vfhirliug wave, All for his lady's smile; And he swims the stream with courage brave, And he gains yon flowery isle. "And his fingers have cropped the blossoms blue, And the prize they backward bear To deck his love with the brilliant hue And braid her nut-brown hair. "But the way is long and the cirrrent strong, And, alas! "for that gallant knight! For the waves prevail and his stout arms fail, Though cheered by his lady'B sight. "Then the blossoma blue to the Ijftnk he threw Ere he sank in the eddying tide; And, 'Lady, I'm gone, thine own true knight, Forget-me-not!' he cried. "This farewell pledge the lady caught; And hence, as legends say, The flower is a sign to waken thought In friends who are far away. "For the lady fail of her knight so true Still remembered the hapless lot; And she cherished the flower of brilliant hue, And she braided her hair with the blossoms blue. And called it 'Forget-me-not.' " "There, now," said WilliamJ laughing, when he had done, "what think you of that for a sentimental love tale?" "Well, it- is very romantic," said Thomas, "if it be only true." "Nay, nay," said William, still laughing, "I will have no such reservations as that. Truth has nothing to do with the romance of the tale; and if we are to go in search of evidence for the good bishop's veracity, and eilb and weigh when it comes to hand, we may as well abandon' the story at once." " Then follows a 3hort critique of the plot of the romance, and the sketch is brought to an end with some verses from the pen of Miss Twamley, a wild-flower poetess, on the prettyfringed flower that goes by the name of Ragged Robin.