The Legend Of The Holy Thorn Of Glastonbury.

THE LEGEND OF THE HOLY THORN OF GLASTONBURY .

BY BRO . THOS . SAMPSON , P . E . H . S ., ETC Such songs have power to quiet The restless pulse of care , And come like the Benediction That follows after prayer . LONGFELLOW .

IF we Avere to travel throughout the Avhole of Britain Ave should perhaps scarcely find a spot more attractive to the antiquary than Glastonbury ; and this not because solel y of its ancient relics and remains , but because those very antiquities are more or less intimately connected with the

introduction and progress of Christian ty . Wondrous and fascinating are the legendary tales concerning the abbey of Glastonbury , and the Avalonian Isle ; fiction , fact , and fancy have each lent their aid ; and contribute to the charm , ancl it is difficult to imagine a

more pleasing task than to travel for a short time into the realms of legendary lore , especially Avhen our steps are led to wander beside the cherished paths of our own county , " the faire greene lancle" of Somersetshire . There , we may trace the

Avaymarks of travellers , more experienced and , perhaps , more enterprising , who have preceded us , and who have so throughly examined every milestone on the road , and

explored every nook and cranny of historical interest , that Ave may safely content ourselves with a more expeditious mode of travelling , and take the benefit of their investigations on our route . Curious records , unintelli gible

manuscrip ts , antique registers , and dusty folios meet us on our way , like an ancient and forlorn avenue of dark sombre pines and majestic elms ; while romances , tales , traditions and legends spring up everyAvhere aroundand lend a refreshing lance to

, g the scene , as do the silvery birches and slender ash-trees whicli intermingle Avith their more stately brethren of the forest ; but , alas ! superstition , like the tAvining ivy , clings around each giant trunk and tender branchenclosing alike in its fatal embrace

, the dull dry record of impossibie deeds , or the more alluring mementos of a romantic and equally impossible piety . Along this tangled labyrinth we would fain pursue our course , and both inclination and fancy induce us to turn aside into

the little bye-path leading to sacred ground , even that Avhence arose the Holy Thorn of Glastonbury . No traditions are more interesting , or more imploringly invite us to linger beneath their soothing shade , than those concerning

the first establishment at Glastonbury of the persecuted Arimathean missonary and his companions . True it is the over-arching network of their legendary leaves may obscure the brilliant sunlight overhead , and let us be

deeply thankful that our sight is gladdened by the free and uninterrupted view of Christianity in all its beauty ; but , nevertheless , we may catch a few rays of the glorious Light which gleams through the chinks , ancl Avhich feeble and faint though

it were , yet proved a greatful source of enlightment to many a weary soul who Avould otherwise have been iu total darkness . These records bear a striking testimony to the honour Avith whicli men in all ages have invested those amongst them , who , by

their lives ancl conduct , have AVOU their respect and esteem ; ancl the traditions of the miraculous origin of the Holy Thorn of Glastonbury are but tribute to the courage , perseverance , and piety of St . Joseph of Arimathea , the first ambassador of Christ in Britain .

Many and various are the legends concerning this Holy Thorn , and though we cannot look to them for any large amount of historical truth , still it is not altogether idle or useless to know what they say about this famous tree .

It is beyond all question , that a Thorn has grown on the South ridge of Wearyall Hill , ( now called Werrall Park ) since the earliest ages of Christianity , and that this Thorn budded and blowed yearly upon Christmas Day . All traditions agree in asserting that it

sprang up miraculously , but differ upon minor points of detail ; from these different sources , I gather the following narrative , which , however absurd and improbable it may appear to us now , Avas , no doubt , eagerly listened toand Avonderingly

, believed in in days gone by . The history of the Holy Thorn takes us back to the infant days of Christianity , ancl Ave must commence with the first mention of St . Joseph , Avhich Ave find in the Gospels . He is there spoken of as the " Councellor ,