The boys never forgot their mother's pride and love and care; and in after years, when they had become great men in Rome, they often thought of this scene in the garden. And the world still likes to hear the story of Cornelia's jewels.
QUEEN MARGARET AND THE ROBBERS
BY ALBERT F. BLAISDELL (ADAPTED)
One day when roses were in bloom, two noblemen came to angry words in the Temple Gardens, by the side of the river Thames. In the midst of their quarrel one of them plucked a white rose from a bush, and, turning to those who were near him, said:—
“He who will stand by me in this quarrel, let him pluck a white rose with me, and wear it in his hat.”
Then the other gentleman tore a red rose from another bush, and said:—
“Let him who will stand by me pluck a red rose, and wear it as his badge.”
Now this quarrel led to a great civil war, which was called “The War of the Roses,” for every soldier wore a white or red rose in his helmet to show to which side he belonged.
The leaders of the “Red Rose” sided with King Henry the Sixth and his wife, Queen Margaret, who were fighting for the English throne. Many great battles were fought, and wicked deeds were done in those dreadful times.