The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-05-10
Young Folks.
The CRYSTAL Spectacles.

The Crystal Spectacles.
"What q stupid world this 81" cried
little Blossom, stopping for moment,
as she ran down steep, messy path,
which led through wood to the rivers
edge. "What stupid world this isV
And she tossed back her sunny curls, |
while the tears stood in her clear, brown |
eyes.
"Of course the river has overflowed
lust because | wanted walk along its
banks, and | feel sure the forget-me-
nots will be later than usual, on
purpose to spite me. l hate these
nasty weeds" the child continued,
tearing up a handful of green leaves,
which she threw two OF three yards
away from her.
Then Blossom hastened on with inn
patient zest till she caught sight Of a
"fairy's ring" which had sprung up in
the night, beneath an old oak.tree.
"Those disgusting toad-stools," she ex'
claimed, "are determined to poison me,
but 1 shall pay no heed to the nasty
things !" And she walked on with an
air of offended dignity.
Suddenly she looked up into the sky.
"Oh, dear !" she sighed, "what an ugly
black cloud that is !" and, with sullen
kick of her little foot, Blossom tripped
and fell. You may be sure she had a
good cry for her aching little heart was
glad of an excuse for tears; and seating
herself near the oak tree, she sobbed
herself to sleep.
She dreamed she was lying in her
own white bed at home, when such a
bright moonbeam darted in at the win
dow that she closed her weary little
| eyes, lest they should be daZzled.
"Blossom - said soft, musical voice.
Blossom looked up, and saw beautiful
child sitting on the moonbeam. Her
little frock reminded Blossom of the
feecy, white clouds in summer sky,
and instead of girdle she wore gar
land of myrtle and honeysuckle. Her
fair hair was strewn with sweet wood.
violets, in her hand was lily of the
valley, and over Eer heart rested a
lovely heart's-ease, hiding among the
dainty folds of her white frock.
"Who are you?" said Blossom, rub.
bing her eyes.
"The wee folk call me Iris,' said the
child. "Have you been crying, Bios
som ?"
eyes," answered Blossom, feeling
very uncomfortable.
81 thought so,' said Iris, with wise
nod of her little head; THAT was why
1 came"
There was little pause, and Blossom
heard the vipe-leaves outside tapping
against the window.
81 fancy you must have lost your
crystal spectacles," said Iris, looking
straight into Blossoms eyes.
"Spectacles !" laughed Blossom.
"You must be mistaking me for grand
mamma" and she passed her plump
hand over her dimpled face, to see
whether there were any wrinkles there.
II knew you once had a pair, though"
said Iris, "only they were so perfect,
you neither saw nor felt them; but they
made all the difference in the wearing,
for almost everything looked pleasant
through them.
"Well,' replied Blossom, ~ should
like such pair of spectacles as that, or
indeed anything else that would make
things seem a little less disagreeable.
"Listen, then," said Iris. Forget
your own troubles and just look straight
up; catch all the sunshine you eau, and
then look around for some one with
whom you may share it,"
"Agreed !" answered Blossom. And
with this she awoke. Then she sat up,
full of her dream, and lifted up, not
only her eyes, but her heart also; and
then full of love and joyfulness, she
looked around.
The sun shone down through the
green boughs overhead, into the ivy
carpeted ground. From her pleasant
seat Blossom could see the great river
in the valley, sweeping on between its
green banks, and shining with gold
wherever the sun shone on it. 1t was
wide enough to look very beautiful, but
evidently had not overhowed enough
to prevent walk along its banks; and
on the further side Blossom spied a
great bed of lovely forget-me.nots. She
was wild with delight, but she hurried
homeward, for she thought she knew OF
a poor cottage where some of her sun
shine would be very acceptable.
She stopped as she passed the oak
tree, for she saw clump of fine mush.
rooms. "Ah," she said, as she stopped
to gather them, 81 once thought those
were toadstools! And those plants
took for useless weeds-why, those are
wild Arums."
Once again Blossom looked up, She
saw the same dark cloud she had no.
ticed before, but saw, too, by the bright
rim of gold on its upper edge that il
had golden lining.
81 scarcely think 1 need the spec
tacles!' laughed Blossom.
"You have them already" said the
soft voice of Iris. "Did not say they
were invisible?"
And when Blossom looked down she
saw the lily Of the valley in her OWE
little hand. Iris had left it as keep
sake. Lilly Of the valley represents in
flower language the return of happi
ness.)