WE The Rose. BEAUTY AND PROSPERITY. you E think no one will dispute that the Rose is worthy of the first place in these pages, being generally considered the pride of the garden and the most lovely member of the Floral family. There are so many different sorts of Roses, that you could not possibly remember all the names even if I were to try and tell you them; but you will like to know something more about a flower which is familiar to most of you, when in your cottage homes used to see the Roses climbing all over the walls of your mother's garden. That was the common Rose, which was first brought from China a great many years ago, but which is now almost forgotten for the sake of all the beautiful kinds which have been, by great care and labour, produced from our old friend the Monthly or China Rose. But we never could have had these lovely flowers brought to such perfection, had it not been for the perseverance of the gardener, so that here is a lesson for us. We all know, if we are honest enough to acknowledge it, that nothing can be done and no one can get on without perseverance. There is also the pretty little Rose which grows wild in the hedges, commonly called the Dog Rose, and which adds so much to the beauty of many of our country walks across the fields. In our admiration for this lovely flower we must remember that it is not alone for its good looks that we admire and value it, but also for the healing properties contained in an ointment obtained from the pulp of the fruit, and for a cooling medicine given in fever. Yet, while we think of all the beauties of this flower, we must not forget the thorns which accompany it and teach us surely that every station in life has its trials and difficulties; we are so apt to think that those, who are in a different position to ourselves, who have not our trials, can have none, and then without waiting to know, we envy them, and then give way to discontent. If we would more often think of the old saying "no rose without a thorn," it would help us to learn one part at least of the lesson which this flower seems to teach. But there is another plant we think of, when talking about the Rose, which bears the same rame, though by no means the same flower, and yet it must have been very beautiful to have been given the name of rose. A name which is given to our Blessed Lord, in The Song of Solomon, one of the books of the Bible, where He is called "the rose of Sharon." It is right that this flower should speak of Him, for as the Rose is the most beautiful of all our flowers, is He not the One who in Holy Scripture is called "altogether lovely?" and as from the Rose comes a healing ointment so we read in the Book of Life that, "Virtue went out of Him, and healed them all." Think too of the beauty of His character, Who sets us an example of love and gentleness, of meekness and purity, and of obedience, and all other graces. "I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste." "Leaving us an example that we should follow His steps who did no sin." "Learn of Me for I am meek and lowly in heart." |