FLORAL DIRECTORY. num. FLORAL DIRECTORY. Indian Bay. Laurus Indica. Dedicated to St. John of Matha. Holiday at the Exchequer. February 9. St. Nicephobishop, A. D. 525. St. Alice, or rus, A. D. 260. St, Theliau, Bishop, Adelaide, A. D. 1015. St. Abraamius, A. D. 580. St. Ansbert, Abp. of Rouen, Bishop of Arbela. A. D. 695. St. Attracta or Tarahata of St. Agatha. Ireland. St. Herard or Eberhard. This saint, who is in the calendar of the church of England, was a Sicilian martyr about the year 251. Butler relates, Roman Narcissus. Narcissus Romanus. that before her death she was tortured, Dedicated to St. Apollonia. and being refused physicians, St. Peter himself came from heaven, healed her wounds, and filled her prison with light. February 10. He also as gravely states, that several St. Scholastica, A. D. 543. St. Coteris, times when Catana was in danger from 4th Cent. St. William of Maleval, a. D. the eruptions of mount Etna, her veil 1157. St. Erlulph, Scotch Bishop. eared in procession averted the volcanic matter from the city. FLORAL DIRECTORY. Mezereon. Daphne Mezereon. Dedicated to St. Scholastica. Silky Fork Moss. Mnium heteomallum. Dedicated to St. Coteris. February 11. St. Saturninus Dativus, &c. of Africa, A. D. 304. St. Severinus, A. D. 507. $t. Dorothy, A. D. 308. St. Vedast, The Empress Theodora, A. D. 867. Bishop, A. D. 539. St. Amandus, A. D. 675. St. Barsanuphius. Red Primrose. Primula Verna rubra. Dedicated to St. Theodora. February 12. St. Benedict of Anian, A. D. 821. St. Februarp 7. Meletius of Antioch. A. D. 381. St. Eulalia of Barcelona. St. Romuald, a. D. 1027. St. Richard, St. Anthony Cauleas, A. D. 896. HILARY TERM ends. Noble Liverwort. Anemone hepatica. Dedicated to St. Eulalia. February 13. St. Catherine de Ricci. A.D. 1589. St. Lici. February 8. nius, Bishop. A.D. 618. St. Polyeuctus, A. D. 257. St. Gregory II. Pope. St. St. John of Matha, a. D. 1213. St. Ste- Martinianus St. Modomnoe or Domi phen of Grandmont, A. D. 1124. St. nick of Ossory, 6th Cent. St. Stephen, Peul, Bishop of Verdun, a. D. 631. Abbot, 6th Cent. Roger, Abbot, A, D. St. Cuthman. 1175, FLORAL DIRECTORY. FLORAL DIRECTORY. PLORAL DIRECTORY. young persons, little is known, except Polyanthus. Primula polyantha. that he was a priest of Rome, and marDedicated to St. Catherine de Ricci. tyred there about 270. It was a custom with the ancient RoFebruary 14. man youth to draw the names of girls in honour of their goddess Februata-Juno VALENTINE'S DAY. on the 15th of February, in exchange for St. Valentine. St. Maro, A. D. 433. which certain Roman catholic pastors St. Abraames, A. D. 422. St. Augentius, 5th Cent. St. Conran, Bishop given the day before, namely, on the 14th substituted the names of saints in billets of Orkney. of February St. Valentine, of this saint, so celebrated among Where can the postman be, I say? Hark!—there he is loh! the dear Cupid ! Two hundred thousand letters beyond that's the way to reckon." " Ah, my the usual daily average, annually pass child, that's not the way to reckon; you through the twopenny post-office in Lon- have taken something into the account ihat don on St. Valentine's Day. “ Two has no business there : all Valentinehundred thousand twopences," said an writers are not in love, nor are all lovers old gentleman as he read this in a March Valentine-writers; and remember, my newspaper, " are four hundred thousand dear girl, that as smiles on the face some pence,"--and he was going to cast up the times conceal cruel dispositions, so there amount_«Why, papa," said his daughter, are some who write Valentines, and trifte " that's just the number of young folks with hearts for the mere pleasure of inthere must be in love with each other— flicting pain." "I will show you what I : Bean," said the old gentleman, and tak. “Well now, this is capital !” exclaimed ing a paper from a drawer, he held up the laughing lass.“ After such a Valenthis exemplification : tine, you must take the hint, my dear sir : it's really a shame that so good-natured a man should remain a bachelor. I recollect, that when I could only just run about, you used to be so kind to me; besides, how you dandled and played with me i and since then, how you have read to me and instructed me till I grew up! Such a man is the very man to be married : you are every way domestic, and it's settled ; you must get married.”—“Well, then, will you have me?" he inquired, with a cheerful laugh. “ I have you? No! Why, you are too old; but not too old to find a Just then an unmarried gentleman, wife : there are many ladies whom we u of a certain age," entered the room. know, of your age, wholly disengaged; On becoming acquainted with the topic, but you don't pay them any particulit he drew from his pocket a small packet, attention.” Her father interposed; and and said, with a merry smile, “ Here was the gentleman she addressed playfully my Valentine." It contained a rib of said, “ It is a little hard, indeed, that I some small animal completely enveloped should have these fine compliments and with white satin ribbon, ornamented by severe reproaches at the same time: howa true lover's knot at each end, and ano- ever,” taking her by the hand,“ you will ther in the middle. Father and daughter understand, that it is possible I may have both had a laugh at the “old bachelor," paid particular attention to a lady at an and he, laughing with them, put into the age when the affections are warmer ; I young lady's hand the poetical address did; and I reconciled myself to rejection that accompanied his rib: by courting my books and the pleasures Go contemplate this lovely sign! of solitudeHaste thee away to reason's shrine, Hast thou been ever wakiug And listen to her voice ; From slumbers soft and light, No more illusive shades pursue, And heard sweet music breaking To happiness this gives the clue, The stillness of the night; Make but a prudent choice. When all thy soul was blending 'Till Adam had a partner given, With that delightful strain, And night her silence lending To rivet fancy's chaio ; Then on a sudden pausing, Those strains have ceas'd to plav A painful absence causing Of bliss that died away! So from my soul has vanish'd The dream of youthful days; So Hope and Love are banish'd, And Truth her pow'r displays. The origin of so pleasant a day, the Enougb, thy folly to upbraid; Enough to make thee wise : first pleasant day in the year, whether its No more of pensive hours complain, season be regarded, or the mode of its No more, that all life's joys are vain, celebration, requires some little invesIf thou this hint despise. tigation; nor must some of its past and Feb. 13, 182—. A Friend. present usages be unrecorded here. St. Valentine's Morning. Loud chanticleer doth sound bis clarion shrill, Which floats the dark brow of yon eastern hill. Bright star of morn, oh! leave not yet the wave 10 deck the dewy frontlet of the day;. Nor drive retiring darkness yet away. Ere yet my tongue endite a single song, Sweet maiden, fairest of the virgin throng. Dodsley's Miscell. Attend we upon Elia. Hark, how perfect simplicity of feeling, Madam, triumphantly that noble herald of the my liver and fortune are entirely at your college of kindness proclaims the day! disposal;' or putting a delicate question, “ Hail to thy returning festival, old Amanda, have you a midriff to bestow Bishop Valentine! Great is thy name in But custom has settled these things, and the rubric, thou venerable arch-flamen of awarded the seat of sentiment to the Hymen! Immortal Go-between! who and aforesaid triangle, while its less fortunate what manner of person art thou? Art neighbours wait at animal and anatomical thou but a name, typifying the restless distance. principle which impels poor humans to “ Not many sounds in life, and I inseek perfection in union? or wert thou clude all urban and all rural sounds, exindeed a mortal preiate, with thy tippet ceed in interest a knock at the door. It and thy rochet, thy apron on, and decent gives a very echo to the throne where lawn sleeves? Mysterious personage! like Hope is seated.' But its issues seldom unto thee, assuredly, there is no other answer to this oracle within. It is so mitred father in the calendar.—Thou seldom that just the person we want to comest attended with thousands and ten see comes. But of all the clamorous thousands of little Loves, and the air is visitations, the welcomest in expectation Brush'd with the hiss of rustling wings ; is the sound that ushers in, or seems to usher in, a Valentine. As the raven himsinging Cupids are thy choristers, and thy self was hoarse that announced the fatal precentors; and instead of the crosier, entrance of Duncan, so the knock of the the mystical arrow is borne before thee. postman on this day is light, airy, confi “ In other woids, this is the day on dent, and befitting one that bringeth which those charming little missives, good tidings.' It is less mechanical than ycleped Valentines, cross and intercross on other days; you will say, “That is not each other at every street and turning. the post, I am sure.' Visions of Love, of The weary and all for-spent twopenny Cupids, of Hymens, and all those de. postman sinks beneath a load of delicate lightful, eternal common-places, which embarrassments, not his own. It is having been, will always be ;' which no scarcely credible to what an extent this schoolboy nor schoolman can write away; ephemeral courtship is carried on in this having their irreversible throne in the loving town, to the great enrichment of fancy and affections; what are your transporters, and detriment of knockers and ports, when the happy maiden, opening bell-wires. In these little visual inter- with careful finger, careful not to break pretations, no emblem is so common as the emblematic seal, bursts upon the sight ihe heart,—that little three-cornered ex- of some well-designed allegory, some porent of all our hopes and fears,—the type, some youthful fancy, not without bestuck and bleeding heart; it is twisted verses and tortured into more allegories and Lovers all, affectations than an opera-hat. What A madrigal, authority we have in history or mythology or some such device, not over abundant for placing the head-quarters and metro- in sense--young Love disclaims it,--and polis of god Cupid in this anatomical seat not quite silly-something between wind rather than in any other, is not very clear; and water, a chorus where the sheep but we have got it, and it will serve as might almost join the shepherd, as they well as any other thing. Else we might did, or as I apprehend they did, in Ar easily imagine, upon some other system cadia. which might have prevailed for any thing “ All Valentines are not foolish, and I which our pathology knows to the con shall not easily forget thide, my kind trary, a lover addressing his mistress, in friend (if I may have leave to call you so) E. B.-E. B. lived opposite a young “ Good morrow to my Valentine, sings maiden, whom he had often seen, unseen, poor Ophelia ; and no better wish, but from his parlour window in C-e-street. with beiter auspices, we wish to all faithShe was all joyousness and innocence, ful lovers, who are not too wise to despise and just of an age to enjoy receiving a old legends, but are content to rank Valentine, and just of a temper to bear themselves humble diocesans with old the disappointment of missing one with Bishop Valentine, and his true church.” good humour. E. B. is an artist of no common powers; in the fancy parts of designing, perhaps inferior to none; his Mr. Douce, whose attainments include name is known at the bottom of many a more erudition concerning the origin and well-executed vignette in the way of his progress of English customs than any profession, but no further ; for E. B. is Other antiquarian possesses, must be remodest, and the world meets nobody ferred to upon this occasion. He obkali-way. B. B. meditated how he could serves, in his « Illustrations of Shakrepay this young maiden for many a fa- speare,” concerning St. Valentine's day, Four which she had done him unknown; that "it was the practice in ancient for, when a kindly face greets us, though Rome, during a great part of the month but passing by, and never knows us of February, to celebrate the Lupercalia, again, nor we it, we should feel it as an which were feasts in honour of Pan and obligation; and E. B. did. This good Juno, whence the latter deity was named artist set himself at work to please the Februata, Februalis, and Februlla. On damsel. It was just before Valentine's this occasion, amidst a variety of cereday three years since. He wrought un- monies, the names of young women were seen, and unsuspected, a wondrous work. put into a box, from which they were We need not say it was on the finest gilt drawn by the men as chance directed. paper with borders—full , not of common The pastors of the early christian church, hearts and heartless allegory, but all the wbo by every possible means endeavoured prettiest stories of love from Ovid, and to eradicate the vestiges of pagan superolder poets than Ovid (for E. B. is a stitions, and chiefly by some commutascholar.) There was Pyramus and Thisbe, tions of their forms, substituted, in the and be sure Dido was not forgot, nor present instance, the names of particular Hero and Leander, and swans more than saints instead of those of the women, sang in Cayster, with mottoes and fanci- and as the festival of the Lupercalia had fal devices, such as beseemed,-a work commenced about the middle of February, in short of magic. Iris dipt the woof. they appear to have chosen St. Valentine's This on Valentine's eve he commended day for celebrating the new feast, because to the all-swallowing indiscriminate ori- it occurred nearly at the same time. This boe0, ignoble trust!) of the common is, in part, the opinion of a learned and post; but the humble medium did its rational compiler of the Lives of the duty, and from his watchful stand, the Saints,' the Rev. Alban Butler. It should Rent moming, he saw the cheerful mes- seem, however, that it was utterly impossenger knock, and by and by the precious sible to extirpate altogether any ceremony charge delivered. He saw, unseen, the to which the common people had been bappy girl unfold the Valentine, dance much accustomed: a fact which it were about, clap her hands, as one after one easy to prove in tracing the origin of the pretty emblems unfolded themselves. various other popular superstitions. And She danced about, not with light love, or accordingly the outline of the ancient foolish expectations, for she had no lover; ceremonies was preserved, but modified ?, if she had, none she knew that could by some adaptation to the christian syskave created those bright images which tem. It is reasonable to suppose that delighted her. It was more like some the above practice of choosing mates fairy present; a God-send, as our famili- would gradually become reciprocal in the asty pious ancestors termed a benefit sexes; and that all persons so chosen received, where the benefactor was un- would be called Valentines, from the day known. It would do her no harm. It on which the ceremony took place.” would do her good for ever after. It is Leaving intermediary facts to the cugood to love the unknown. I only give rious inquirer, we come immediately lo this as a specimen of E B., and his ma a few circumstances and sayings from desi way of doing a concealed kindaess. grave authors and gay poets respecting |
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