Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-01-28
SNOW-DROPS.

The winter in Prussia had been
unusually long and severe, and
when March came, the ground
was still covered by a shroud of
snow and ice. 1t was only about
the middle of the month that the
warm sunbeams softened the sur
face of the ground. The lark
sang the sweetest song she knew,
the children began to tumble their
hoops, and here and there they
could see the sprouts of the hardi-
est plants.
The beams Of the warm spring
sun entered also the open window
of a splendid room in the castle of
a count, which was built high up
on rock, at whose feet lay a fruit
full valley and gardens. A SER
want who had lived in the castle
a number of years, was cleaning
out the parlor, and was just dust
ing off the two marble statues
standing near the fire place, when
the door opened a little wider than
it already was, and there appeared
a girl scarcely fourteen years of
age, who was dressed in neat but
plain clothing.
"Good morning. said she, very
much abashed by the splendor of
the apartment, for she had never
seen any thing so grand before.
The woman was disposed to be
naughty and impatient towards
one whom she regarded as an in
truder, and replied,
"Who gave you permission to
come here ?" iaa
"No one came to the front door," !"
modestly answered the girl. "and
as it stood slightly open, ] took
the liberty to come In, especially
as / heard some one say; walk
in walk inr!" "You foolish thing!'
said the woman, "that was only
the parrot. Not single person
in the house told you to come in"
The girl was very much astonished
at this, for though she had seen a
large bird with green feathers,
she had not the slightest idea thai
the bird would play a joke eii her
"What is your business here
any how? asked the woman
"The servants roo,r. is below; you
had better go a1.d see the. house
keeper, if ECU have any request
to mplMen ~.
The girl looked quite surprised
{, at this harsh treatment, and said
.I"I would like to see the countess
if she would be SO kind as to le
me see her" at.E5s..s
"You foolish thing! Don't yol
know she don't get up SO soon il
the morning. Besides, she dom
care anything about seeing you.
Just then, lady entered th'
room and said
! "Rhe countess is up.
Behold, it was the countess her
self, who gave her servant some
plain words of reproof for her i'm
pudence to the modest country
: girl. The countess wasvery kline
to the child, who soon made kEaeewr
her request.
4 She had brought from the coun
try a little basket of beautiful
snow-drops, the very first of th'
season. She asked the counties
, if she would have the kindnes
to see that the King of Prussi'
should receive that little basket
The kind lady was very mucl
pleased, to see the plain peasan
girl have SO much respect and lov
!, for the ruler of her country, an
: promised her that the flower
should be placed at once IN tn
: hands of the King himself. for he
own brother was his chamberlain
s'But where did you get thes
snow-drops so soang
!, The girl replied, "There is Oh
: ly one place in the whole fore'
. where they grow so. soon, and
cannot tell why it is they blool
two weeks sooner in that partlc'
, lar place than elsewhere. 81
: such Is the fact, for | have gait
cred them a fortnight earlier thel
i than anywhere else for thre
springs in. succession Strange
Il say, nobody appears to know !
$ for | am always the FIRST 10 gath'
l4Ia,,, -