The Legend Of The Holy Thorn Of Glastonbury.

possession of it , they resumed the former title , translating it into their OAVU language as Glastron or Glascon . An early legend says that Avhen St . Joseph and his companions came into England from Wales , they divided into three companiesand that only two people

, Avent with St . Joseph to Ynis-witryn . They rested upon their arrival at their destination , on the ridge of a hill , about half-a-mile south-west of where Glastonbury now stands ; and in the very place Avhere they restedthere sprang up a

, miraculous Thorn-tree , whicli never failed to bud and blow yearly upon Christmasday , let the weather be ever so severe . A more enlarged narrative states that St . Joseph and his little band of faithful folloAvers landed not far from Glastonbury ,

and that an oak was planted in commemoration of the place and the event , called the oak of Avalon . They then marched to a hill , where they rested , being tired and footsore , for , say the Monkish Chronicles , " Aveary they all were . " For this reason the hill was ever after called Weary-all Hill . It was Christmas Day in the year of our Lord 63 , when they reached

Ynis-witrynthe first Christian festival that gladdened our isle ; but not long Avere they to contemplate undisturbed the Strang providence Avhich hacl led them through so many trials into a place of refuge at last , —not long were they to converse the glad tidings Avhich ,

in their recollection , had greeted some lvearied watchers near dearly-loved Bethlehem , —not long Avere they permitted to keep the Saviour ' s birthday ivith a feast of thanksgiving and peace , for the rough , untutored inhabitants soon croAvded around

them , and by their menacing gestures alarmed the poor travellers very much . St . Joseph , hoAvever , did not share the trembling uneasiness of his companions , but calmly planted his pilgrim ' s staff in the earth and knelt beside it . He then

Avith upraised hands and eyes , implored his Master ' s blessing on their enterprise , and on the ground of which had thus taken possession in His name . The boisterous multitude Avere struck Avith awe at the novel circumstance of a

venerable ancl helpless old man , unmoved amid danger , and earnestly speaking in an unknown tongue to some one whom they could not see .

But they Avere still more astonished at the si ght Avhich greeted their eyes Avhen St . Joseph arose from his knees . Awonderful miracle had taken place , and the staff whicli was p lanted in the ground , roughdry , and barrenwas transformed

, , into a living tree , whicli immediately budded and Mowed , and gave forth the most delicious perfume . St , Joseph exclaimed with tearful gratitude " Our God is with us ! Jesus is Avith us ! " and the

heathen croAvd bowed their heads in token of adoration and amazement . The little Christian company Avere no longer depressed by the difficulties of their undertaking , but Avere much cheered and encouraged ; and the natives were disposed to regard them as endowed with super-natural poAver

, and Avell worthy of belief . Visions were granted to the saintly band , and , in course of time , they built a chapel to the honour of the Virgin Mary , in obedience to the commands of the Archangel Gabriel . Steadfastly and earnestly they pursued

their miAvearied labours , amid much discouragement and toil ; striving to bring the rude barbarians around them to a better and happier way of living , ancl gladdened by the knoAvledge that here and there might be found a soul that had

tasted of the Fountain of Life through their instrumentality . This was the highest reward , save one , that they sought for ; and as the little Christian band , one by cue , fell asleep on earth , they met their chief and glorious reward in heaven , even to see their beloved Master face to face : —

"They climbed the steep ascent of heaven , 'Mid peril , toil , and pain : 0 God ! to us may grace be given To follow in their train !" So ends the beautiful and' romantic narrative touching the Holy Thorn of

Glastonbury ; and it is almost painful to be compelled to destroy the fair inventions concerning its details , and to oppose truth and knowledge to the enchanting offspring of ignorance and superstition . It is more than doubtful Avhether Joseph of Arimathea

ever came to Britain , since he was evidently a man of quiet habits ; ancl we can scarcely believe that , if he really had come to Britain , the writers ancl chroniclers of the 1 st century would have omitted to