The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-02-28
The White Water-LilY.

LLC W WAAhD W ehNN-
At the bottom of wild, dark, muddy
lake there lay small root; the mud
covered it, the frogs hid under il, and
once q great turtle actually trod on it.
"Oh, dearw said the little root, talk
ing to itself, chow dark and lonsense il
is down here. Hardly a ray of light
comes to me. They tell me it is light
and beautiful above me-there is a
lovely sky there; but the heavy waters
lie on me and press me down. Nobody
ever thinks Of me, or even knows that
live. l am a poor useless thing, l can
not communicate with any one l
might as well not bep'
The snow covered the earth and filled
the forest, the ice covered the lake, and
there lay the little root, coiled up in
loneliness. But when the spring had
returned, and the SHOWS were gone and
the ice had melted and the birds had
come and the forest had put on its man
tie of green, the little root felt that the
water was warmer, and she peeped up
with one eye, and then she nestled
and felt strong desire to see the light
So she shot up a long, smooth, beautiful
stem till it reached the top of the lake.
But when she attempted TO draw il back
again she found it would not come.
But instead of that, little bud grew on
the end of the stem. She called, but
the bud gave no answer; it only swelled
and grew larger and larger, and the
rains fell on it, the sun and the moon
seemed TO smile on it and cheer IL, till
at last it burst open, full of joy, and
found itself the white, sweet, pure
water-lily. It's leaves were of the pur-
est white, while in its center was
golden spot covered with down. 1t Law
upon the top of the water, and basked
in the sun-a most beautiful object.
The root fed it, and felt that il was
really herself, though in new form.
The humming-bird passed over it, and
thrust its bill to suck its sweetness.
The air all around was made sweet by
its fragrance; still it felt that it was no
use in the world, and wished it could do
something to make Others happy.
At length the splashing of oars was
heard, and the lily turned around TO see
what it meant. Just then she heard
the voice of a little boy in the boat, say
ing:
"Oh, father, what 4 beautiful lily {,
Do let me get itr'
Then the boat turned slowly toward
1t, and the little boy put out his hand
and seized it. The long stem broke off
near the root, and the child held it in
his hand. 1t seemed the fairest, sweet
est thing he ever saw.
"Now what will you do with it?r
asked the father.
"Fll look at it and smell of it.n
"Is there nobody else that would like
TO see and smell of it?n
81 don't know, sir. Oh, yes, now /
think! Would not Jane Irving love TO
have 2"
81 think she would."
That afternoon poor Jane Irving, who
lived in the cottage just under the ma
pie trees, lay on her sick bed alone.
She was poor, mOtherless child. She
knew that she had the consumption and
must die. She was thinking about the
dark, cold grave, and wondering how
she should ever come out Of it. \ tear
stood in each eye just as the little boy
came to her bedside with the white
water-lily.
"See here, Jane, got that away out
in the lake, and brought it for you. l
thought you would like it,"
'Thank you, thank you! 1t is indeed
very beautiful and very sweet. What 4
long stem! Where did it grow?''
"It grew out of the mud in the bottom
OF the lakei ana TINS long stemi rs long
rs a man, shows how far down it grew.
Ii was all alone-not another one to be
seen. Pm glad you like it, but | must
60" And away ran the little boy.
Jane held the puIe, white flower in
her hand, and the good spirit seemed to
whisper in her heart, "Jaue, Jane, don't
you see what God can do? Don't you
see that out of dark, foul mud he can
bring thing more beautiful than the
garments of a queen, and as pure rs an
angels wing; and can't he also, from
the dark grave, raise you pure and beau
tiful and glorious? Can you doubt it?n
And the heart of the poor child was
filled with faith, and the angel Of Hope
wiped away her tears, and the lily
preached of peace and mercy; when she
withered she thanked God that nothing
would be regarded as useless.