SOLDIERS AND THISTLES.
MINNIE, in her eagerness after flowers, had wounded her hand on a sharp, prickly thistle.
This made her cry with pain at first and pout with vexation afterward.
"I do wish there was no such a thing as a thistle in the world," she said pettishly.
"And yet the Scottish nation think so much of it they engrave it on the national arms," said her mother.
"It is the last flower that I should pick out," said Minnie. " I am sure they might have found a great many nicer ones, even among the weeds."
"But the thistle did them such good service once," said her mother, "they learned to esteem it very highly. One time the Danes invaded Scotland, and they prepared to make a night attack on a sleeping garrison. So they crept along barefooted as still as possible, until they were almost on the spot. Just at that moment a barefooted soldier stepped on a great thistle, and the hurt made him utter a sharp, shrill cry of pain. The sound awoke the sleepers, and each man sprang to his arms. They fought, with great bravery, and the invaders were driven back with much loss. So, you see, the thistle saved Scotland, and ever since it has been placed on their seal as their national flower."
"Well, I never thought that so small a thing could save a nation," said Minnie thoughtfully.—
The Young Churchman.
