The Scotch Thistle

The üiisiir was selected as the national euablen o: Bcotland In the year 1010. It was during the reign of Malcoïm I. that a notable invasión oí tho country was made by the Danes. They camc in thousaiuls, and landing on the coast, swarmed over the inhal)iieil disrtricte Uke locusts, destroying, buxnlng and plundering wherever they went. i - salety the inhábil anta flod to the castles and ioi-lifieil towne, mid a-inong the most notable of the fortresses of Aberdeenshire was Staiue's castle, where wfere collected a large number of people of the neighborhood. The Danes projected a surprise. Approachiag the asile in the darkncss. they plaimed to scale the walls, and laid aside their shoes that the greater secrecy might be observed hen (lrau-in. hear to the ïortificatlons. The suriJi-i.se mlght have been successful had il not been ior the fact that, on into the dry moat iliey iound. 10 their great diseomiiture and mrtiiii;ntion. it was ïJlcd wltli thistles, by whkdi their feet wiM-e s severely prieked that several made an out-ery, wMeh aroused the defenders of the ensile and bronght thm tO' the waU in time to repel the Begarding their good fortune in repellinig the Dauee as i bo thistles, ! planta were immediately place i on the arm-; ol Scotl&nd and adopted .-is ii,' iniih'in of the country.- New York Eeoor