The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-05-08
A BRANCH OF LILAC.
BY MRS. $. 9 HALzowELL.

II ~ / la n
|. Li!acs for Easter! : Oh, Aunt Ann, 20
should send lilies to the church, inst cad
We have ransackedRll the houses, nd hav
bespnken all that Bl"ss the gardener has
besides. Can't you tind one ~ US amons
year plants up garnet? MI ',e !ily?"
mo; haven't any laypten' up garrel
| don't set much store tby them,. excep
lie wild ones In the vols And though
you'd tie welcnme ~ them, If had EN-
they shouldn't goyto The cAurch as my of.
fering, Easter Day. It's sll new fashion
thlS deckIn' OF the pulpit and the wal
behind the ministers head; and won'l
deny that it's pretty and sweet, and kind
Of holy. looking, the white lilies; but they
neves seem TO me like human flowers.
Perhaps. Aunt Ann said . gay voice
that sank into grave as it spoke, "perhaps
hats The very reason the lilies arc chosen,
becarse they are such heavenly nowers so
pure and still" f.lat.s a.... ..,e
"Yes-but child" AM Aunt AIMS eyes
re a wistful look, "the flowers that help
me ara the near ones, Amy Heth, not The
far-of splendid olonTns. Now this branch
of liIsc"-throwinx her hong arm over the
top Of the tall shrub, and bending II
down Till the fragrant blossoms touched
her face-T call this Il human flower; it
At hume here WIth she common FOL ks
around; 1T part 1T our coming and 20.
ing. | may be withered old branch
very like Sm0-like this tree all winter,
but when the spring comes and see this
tree a-blossoming. tile very moral 81 Easte r
b!"oms fresh for Me." ~
! The gay group OF grIs--it was the
damsel Of the village choir on their fo.al
quest-st0od irresOute at the garden-gate
The! scerned the homely garden flower
and in their iull baskets of white bloss ,ms
Aunt AIMS contribution was hardl y
needed But they were melted, as she
called to them once more, standing still
hy the lilac tree, with the sunset glow in
her face A-t ao ,a.
"SOtry It's not white lilac, since you
are so set on white flowers; but 'uli-
C 'uldn't you, girls, set a. bunch of this
here for HE, down aC the foot of the cross
where it wouldn't show, and wouldn't
spoil your work." e." ss
"I0dted, we will" answered Amy Hrth
the readlest of them ali; and Aunt Ann
Whispered as she pressed the delicious
out-stretched arms, Put it anywhere cut
of sight; hide it under the moss; only
shall sing my hymns tho clearer to NOR
row for knowing it IS there" ~ ~-
| "Yuu shall see it, Aunt Ana trust me
for that said the Wondering girl, IS she
noted the tremor in the wonan's voice
and the sudden dlmness In her eyes.
Nothing that ysu love so much could
spoil the CROSSE
Long time Aunt Ann stood leaning q,
the garden gate, watching the girls till
they passed out Of sight over the hill
watching the sunset clouds ill they died
from their rosy gold iatO the dull, lead eal
hue that made the soft wind turn chill oil
n sudden Then she moved slowly up the
little path that led to the house, walking
with bowed head and measured step as in
a funeral line. But as she passed the lilac
tree, midway in the walk, she raised her
head with a sudden gesture, and threw
az ain her arm around it, bowling it down
upon her upturned FACE, with quick,
eager movement like caress.
Had the lilac tree been human, as she
called it, it must have noted the bright
flush that rose tn her forehead, AMI the
t nder blue of her eyes, deep and serene
in that one moment of renewed youth and
the happiness of years gone by.
Sentiment at forty-seven! Sentiment
in brown stuff gown, striped with white
the skirt Of which was carefully pinned
back upon itself,to be, as she would have
expressed it,"out of the way" The IN.
calmly apron of pale blue check that hung
from her waist, and from the pocket III
which sue now prducesa clum>y key, can
not conceal the c0meliness of figure that
must have been far tn look upon in its
girlIsh grace. Her brown hair---the sun
set glow would have shown you thread
of silver here aud there-bvt in this ten.
der twilight, hair and eyes and penslve
cheek are in sweet accord.
Ahl In that dreamy ten minutes at the
gate, she is no longer Aunt Ann, the re.
spected and we'll beloved old maid of the
village. Her Thoughts have gone back
twenty-thirty years, and she stands a.
the gate amor g the lilac bloom, in the
radiance of seventeen. aa
"Nanny!"--h' r name is called She
has looked down the road in vain for tn,
) advancing figure, and 10! he is at her side
"Were you looking for Somebody ask
mischievOu> voice in her ear.
She need not own il in words that sht
. was watching waiting, for her downcas
+, eyes and oushing CD eek answer for her
He had hidden away among the lila'
: bushes, they grew thick and close then
tn the very gate-there is but one strag
gler left of them now the unshapely tree
, half way up the a'k-and had watched
( her approach with a merry eye. He haC
. seen the long, wistful look down the road
heard the tiny sigh of disappointment
: watched the fair face appraised to the sky
> till few twiLkling stars came out; an,
then, as she turned to GO, had called be-