Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-05-07
Select Tai eS.
From the National Magazine for May.
OUR MAY QUEEN.
BY FLORENCE GREY.

Never had there been a merrer May day in
Lindengrove Spring had come in two weeks
earlier than it was ever known before, and al
ready the voilets and butter-cups smiled in the
meadows, and the May roses were blooming
through the woods The blue houstona stud
ded the uplands, looking out from amid the
springing grass like stars reflected from deep
waters. Wild strawberries were blossoming-
The leaves, too, were everywhere on the trees.
The honeysuckle was already peeping out along
the edges Of the woods and the geranium blush
ed in modest beauty like young virgin at the
thought of love.
Just back of the village was sylvan glade,
the prettiest spot in the world for festival A
natural lawn enclosed on three sides by noble
woods, and opening on the fourth side to the
south, thckly carpeted with grass, was the place
where, time OFT of mind, our May parties had
been held, A rampant Of rocks ran along the
western side Of the glade, covered at this season
with glowing coumbines. On the opposite side
the ground sloped down into the wood, through
which ran babbIing Lrook, quite out of sight
but the music of its gladstone waters, like the
laughter of happy children, come ever to the
ear, soothing the soul with its sweet, sylvan
music.
Who shall be our May Queen? was the ques
ton we asked of each other.
20, Lily Lane was the almost univer
sal response of the younger members of the
party.
should think we might make a better Sc
lection, said Susan Champion, the squre's
daughter, and the richest heiress Lindengrovc
could boast who is Lily Lanep
Now Susan Champion knew we'll enough who
Lily Lane was. Had not everybody in the vii
lage heard the poor orphans story, and pitiet
her for her loneliness and restitution? Lii,
Lane was the only child of couple who had
once been in comparatively good circumstances;
but the father had become bankrupt in some
season of great mercantile disaster, and had fled
to our village to hide his shame and exc out a
miserable pittance for his family. Misfortune
proved too much for Mr. Lane, and he soon died
his wife followed him, in less than year, of
broken heart. Poor Lily Lane, the cherished
pet of luxury, was thus thrown on the world,
penniless orphan. But God feedeth the youn!
ravens, and he raised up friends for the homeless
girl. A humble widow who had known sorrow
where else is pity found but among the poo
and bruised in heart ?--took Lily to her home
and the two together nov earned decent live
lhood by doing needle-work for their neighbors
and Lily even went out sometimes as mantua
maker
You would have thought Lily ill-6tted for thu
wear and tear of life like this, for she was
fragile and delicate as the flower from which
she was named. She was slowly killing herself
there was no doubt of that, All winter she hac
been harrassed by cough, and she often com
planned of pain in her side the doctor hac
told her she must give up sewing; but wha
could she dol Lily could not see the kind oil,
widow suffer for her sake, SO she worked on
saying as little about her illness as possible; bu
often, she would 60 away alone by herself AM
cry bitterly, when she remembered the comfort
she once possessed, and thought how lonely if
was now that her mother lay in the viIlag
church-yard.
Lily had cause for her tears arising from othe
sources. There were hard hearts in Linden
grove as well as elsewhere and sometimes il
following her vocation, she was subj ected to in
suits that made her almost wish herself dead
Susan Champion had once employed her, and i
was with beating heart that Lily had gone t
the mansion of the naughty Champions Lttl
did she dream of what she was to suffer there
She was shown into cold room, and left t
wait nearly two hours without her breakfas
then, when the family had finished their mea
she was sent down into the kitchen to eat wit
the insolent menials. Poor Lily had nere bee
treated thus and her throat choked, and the foo
remained untasted before her.
Proud, contemptuous, and thoroughly selfs
was Susan Champion; but she yelled her ba
qualities under an air of high breeding; and ;