Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-08-10

in the flowers heart. de felt sad and
turned away a while, hoping that the Lilly
MIGHT vet conquer the demon within her
and bow before her Maker, to whom alone
she owed her beauty. Yet no when He
resumed his gaze her crowned head was
still raised upwards. and a supreme indif'
ference to His presence spoke out of her
whole bearing.
Then the Lord came closer, and stood
still before the plant He fixed His clear
grew eyes in panied wonder upon her. She
felt the look, its hot like lightning through
her frame, but the demon of pride was &C
tive within her, and she strove to hide her
emotion.
A reproving look came over the gentle
ia ce. Still no change inthe upright bear
ing of the Lily. A panied shade passed
over the clear eyes. The Lily felt her
resolutson wavering, though she struggled
with might and main to remain in her
proud posture.
Bend thy head, Lily whispered the
other flowers, panied and grieved at this
conduct. Bend Acknowledge thy Lord.
Cause Him no grief; He has enough to
bear. Bendp
But these expostulations only made the
Lily more self-willed. made her desire
more than ever to display her superiority
over her companions.
L will not bend she said half-aloud
in petulant tones. will show myself to
the Lord in my utmost loneliness. That
is nv manner of worship.
Jesus heard the words, and He advanced
yet nearer. His look grew terrible in its
awe-inspiring reproof and ACCOMPLISHMENT.
He spoke no word, uttered no sound, but
remained standing before the flower in ST.
lent reproof, His eyes unremittingly fixed
.uRon her willful crown. Her resolution
1akd more and more her pride began to
waver she felt il was a fruitless combat,
endeavouring to resist the power and CON-
maud enforced by those heavenly eyes
looking upon her for the first time without
pleasure, but full of unmixed pain.
Slowly, slowly her white bells began to
tremble under the Divine glance; still
more slowly she unbent their enforced
rigidness, over each fower-cup spread a
dark red blush of shame, tears of repent
ance started into her eyes, steadily and
gradually each fower-cup dropped its head
earthwards, and soon the hitherto proud
Lily stood with dropped, fame-coloured
bells, and sorrowful mien before the Lord.
He had observed the whole change-the
fleeing forth of the evil spirit, the repen-
lance, the act of Temorse. lie removed
His fearful glance from the flower, and a
milder EXPIRE ssion returned to His gentle
viSage.
Rest in peace, Lily. Sin no more,
He said, and passed on.
When he had left the garden the other
flowers raised themselves from their pen
dant posture. and all of them assailed the
Lily with reproaches.
How couldst thou dare be so proud ?
they said Knowest thou not It's fear
ful sin i? Oh thou whom we had crowned
our empress to-day, how couldst thou
shame US thus before the Lord Of Life,
when just because of thy high estate thou
oughtest to have been the first to humble
thy headY
Many of the flowers wept bitter tears,
and could speak no further for sobs.
The Lilly answered not word /; she who
cowed and Inundated, her spirit broken.
silently she bore the reproofs of her COM
panions silently the taunts and jeers some
less delicate-minded shrubs would utter.
She felt she had too we'll deserved all this !;
az, and far, far more. She continued to
hong her head, the deep blush still uniaded
on her checks.
As she replied by not a word, the others
al length ceased their reproaches, and left
her alone to her sad aud bitter thoughts.
The short Eastern night oerspread the
land with veil of darkness. the moons
yellow rays flooded the garden. and her
light played among the grey-green olive
boughs. The flowers rolled up their leaves,
folded their petals inwards and sought
sumber; the montonous sleepy nodding
Of the trees above singing their lullaby.
All was hushed and still, all save the Lily
we're at rest. She alone of all that
number was awake and restless she could
not forget what had passed within the day
Just dead sorrow would not permit her
TO slumber, and when at last, after the
moon had sunk and the East was begin
ming TO shadow forth new era of light,
sleep fell upon her eyelids, her rest was
disturbed and broken. Several dreams
cour sed through her brain.
Light dawned once more the sun glowed
again in golden splendor over the garden /;
the flowers awoke and bloomed in new in
vigorated beauty. But the Lily showed
the sun a different side than when he had
last beamed down upon her. She still
stood shame-colored and fearful, her impe-
rial crown bowed earthward. and never
again from that day forth did she lift pure
silver bells heavenward.
As for her children, the dark-red bush
has not left their flowers; the tears of re-
pentance we'll ever new within their eyes !;
they bear about them unforgotten the
stigma and remembrance of their ances-
tors wicked rebellion and pride. They
have inherited her title of Empress too !.
but they bear it lowly, and no plant more
beautiful and proud in shape, more humble
in mien, adorns our gardens than the Inn
perial Lily. HELEN ZIMMERN.