Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-07-04
The VfOlet's LQSgOn.

there between. The whole wood was filled
with the music Of the birds, which had flown
north from some sunny cline to herald the ap-
proach of summer.
And beside the timid violets, so near that
they could lean over and look down into it's
clear waters, bright stream went hurrylDg by
out in the meadows, and fields beyond and on ,
on, far the violets could see how much
farther they did not know. Every thing about
them so grand or so beautiful that the poor
little violets felt themselves very insignificant
beings indeed. in this strange, glad world, into
which they had entered. And they shrank
closer together, as if each would shelter itself
behind the other, when the golden April SUM-
shine, glancing through the budding boughs
above them, spied them out and sent a stray
beam to cheer them and brighten up their del
cate blue petals.
Presently an oriole perched himself upon
one of the branches of graceful elm close by,
and warbled if he would pour out his very
heart in music-such a soul of life, gladness
and love.
90 " sighed one of the violets when the
strain pansed far moment, if we could have
voices like that, to rejoice every living thing
within hearing, it would indeed he something
to live for. Would it not be a grand thing
sisters, il could be of some use in this beau
tifui world ? "
Low the whisper was, the oriole, who had
just poised himself on the bough above, prepar-
tory to another outburst OF melody, heard it,
and looking down said
" Why you are OF use, little ones. Il is
your business here TO grow up jnst as fresh and
lovely as you can, anG help TO make the world
more beautiful. Every one cannot sing to be
sure ont every one can do what is in his own
power"
And so having answered the violet ne launch :
ed out into his song again exultingy joining
the chorus of woodland minstrels who were r.
Jocing every side.
But the violet whispered 20 her sisters lower
than before.
"Ah, but | wish We could do something l.
= al. very well TO be beautiful, although doub
II sucn poor little tiny Things We are any
tnlng very wonderful IN that way.
The April wind swept across them, and bent
their heads ovsr the clear stream.
d" Look At yourselves in the water and see If
you have not been made beautiful TO help to
gladden. the world. and do not sigh for more
than has been gwen you. Live your own life
to the uttermost; oe fragrant and blooming,
and you do your part
And the stream looked up to them, and sang
also IN It's !ow, murmurOus ripple:
Everything has its own work to do in The
world. Mine is to freshen the grass and flow
ers, that, Ike yourselves, grow near my green
margin, anu the lofty trees that mirror them
selves III my waters and after while, WIN
have expanded into broad river, 10 bear on
my bosom noble ships that carry men whittier
they w.sh 70 go. Rejoice In the sunshine aud
soft air, and be lovely as you oan--as lovely
as you were designed 20 be-and in time ,ou
VIII KNOW for what use you are destined Is
cont-ss Til then.
81 tus April wind swep. on to visit other
.io ami & b. "A. aIn
ted, singing 10 ," 10 itsey before.
And The vlOIets still looked Up timidly, but
they welcomed the warm bright sun-rays, when
tney shoDe IN upon them bringing 10 them
fresh Afe and color they breained out their
delcate fragrance lovingly on she soft spring
airs, which gently carsssed them.
And 50 they 0oomed IN perfect beauty, IN
seen Tor while b. human eyes. But on one
sunny day TWO young girls wandering
rougn | woods, searching Tor wild flowers
and listening 10 the birds. Presently one of
them paused above the cluster of violets.
., LAURA, sse what lovely violets | am
going TO paint them for mamma. Ii | should
ather them, they would wlther long before |
could take them 10 her; but if copy them
faithfully as | can, they Will be the .oveLest re-
miuder o; the spring that can send - her IN
the Close, buIIt-up city.
90 sne sat down on fallen tree near by, and
shcLSHcN pdttilSA sit Gct!CdlS wee tllQGS IN
the book which sne carried with her, while the
voets stood III ecstasy of delight at finding
how much JOY they could give by their beauty
Then the young glris went on and left the wood
10 It's solitude.
All things went before. The bros
sang their love sangs, lung TO and fro the
trees put forth fresh leaves, and grew greener
every day, and gave deeper shade the stream
rlppIed merrIiy on It's way. Occasionally some
careless woodsman stroiled, whistling, along a
iaintiy-,rodden path that led through the heart
OF the wood or a troop OF merry children, let
loose for holiday, came seeking Wild flowers
but none OF them found be vIolets. until one
golden morning there came a little pale-faced,
Dlue-eyed girl, drawn by her brothers in light
basket carriage. The little girl mad been sick
for weeks, bus VITA the opening spring she had
revived, and now on soft, sunny days, ste was
aOle to go out in this way to take the air. As
ner bfotnefs drew he along near the margin OF
the stream, she spled the vloets, and the blue
eyes grew bright with pleasure.
- -, AIRY Charlie ! 3" she exclaimed,
g " ont yoI take up the vioets very carefully
or me, roots and all, with the earth around
them ? | want to Carry them home and put
them in a fower-pot in my room, where | can
end them myself, and them whenever
wish, when cannot about to look for flow
ers.
And Art} and Charlie, glad TO please their
darling sister, took up the delicate cluster with
the greatest care, and holding the earth in
which il grew hrmly together by means of pa
per wrapped around it, they aid the prize in
Edith lap, and drew her home.
And so the viole;s, transferred to Edith's
room, bioomeG as beautifully as IN their native
wood for loving care never failed them and
day by day, while Edith gathered health and
strength, the blue eyes shone down them
with an ever new delight. And Edith IS visitors
often smiled with pleasure her flowers sug-
gesied TO them some pleasant thought, or
brought ne brightness AMI treshness of
ture, too often forgotten, into their daily
lives.
So the violets found their use. And day
after day. as they oreathed out their lives in
bloom ana fragrance, the breeze that wandered
in at the open windows heard the violet which
had spoken before, whisper to her sisters
All, when l sighed to be of some use in
the world, L little dreamed that We could do so
much good by just growing up to be as lovely
as we can-as lovely as we are designed to be
as the brook said to Us. 1t was right. am
content"
And her sister violets, clustered around her,
softly together
The brook was right. We are content.
=" Our Young Folks for June.
VALUABLE MANUSCRIPTS REVEALED
Paris 1Noniteur lately made the following re-
markaoie statement
The town OF Edcemiadzn, near Mount Ara
rat, III Armenia, the residence OF the Patri-
arch, Contains splendid library composed OF
three thousand Armenian manuscripts OF
which the literary world was hitnert) quite
lgnorant. A catalogue of the collection has
sell (1vl