The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-11-20
The Birth of the SnoM.nron.

soldiers widow, and gained scanty
subsistence by working in vineyards.
Little Renie was only able to follow his
mother in her labors; but he loved to
sit under the vines and see the rich prlr-
pie clusters of grapes that hung among
the green leaves like punches of ame-
thysts.
The widow dearly leved her little son,
and often, seating him upon her knee
after the labor of the day was over, she
told him of his father how he was a
good man and a brave soldier, who
had died fighting for his country and
then she would sob and press the child
to her bosom, rs she related how hand
some the soldiers looked, marching on
to the sound of fife and drum, and how
not one of that gallant band ever re-
turned again.
Renie was much too young to under
stand all this but as he grew older,
he learned that his mother had left her
her father never forgave the marriage
or saw his daughter again. The old
man was living still in distant prov
ince; but, though the heart of th
lonely woman yearned for home, and
with mothers pride she longed to
show her boy, yet she knew the stern
nature of her father, and dared NOT
seek him to plead again for the pardon
so often denied.
At last the poor widow fell ill, and
though it was the season when the rich
hue of the grapes deepened into perfec-
ton beneath the warm sunbeams, she
knew full well that she should not live
to gather them.
The dying neither bade little Renie
come very near to her, and then, in
faltering tones, whispered that she
must leave him, and perform a long,
dark journey alone. But the child,
with violent sobs of grief, clasped his
arms about his mothers neck, praying
to go with her and not to be left be-
hind.
Then the widow, whose strength was
failing fast, comforted her child, ct
will not leave you forever, my son we
shall meet again-in my Fathers
house" She spoke no more, and soon
poor little Renie was an orphan.
The peasants made the poor widow
a grave in quiet spot, and gave the
little boy a home among themselves !;
but day after day he threw himself up
on his mothers grave and wept, refu-
sing to be consoled. Children gathered
about and pressed him to Join their
sports, kind women drew him to their
bosoms and promised to cherish him,
strong-hearted men raised him up and
bade him be of good cheer, bat Renie
turned from them all to the cold, damp
sod, exclaiming, "She will not leave
me forever my mother will come back.
L will wait for her here"
When they saw all their comforting
words were of no avail, they left him,
trusting that the natural ioyousness of
childhood would overcome his grief ;
but when weeks passed on and brought
no change, they learned to respect the
child's sorrow, and the grape -gatherers,
as they returned from the vineyards
with baskets Of the beautiful fruit,
paused in their vintage song as they
saw little Renie with his arms clasped
about the wooden cross upon his moth
er's grave.
The leaves at length dropped dry and
sere, and the snow rested upon the hills
then Renie himself fell i'll, and for
many weeks he could not rise from the
little cot where q kind peasant and his
wife nursed him tenderly during the
tedious hours of illness his mother
image was ever before him and, re-
membering her words, eve shall
meet in my Fathers house" he resolved,
when he grew strong again, to go and
seek her, as she did not return to him.
The snow had not yet melted in the
valleys, though the sun was shining
warmly, when Renie feebly turned his
steps once more toward the spot where
his mother slept. He knelt down be
fore the little cross, and his warm tears
fell fast upon the snow, when, 10 just
where the tears had fallen, appeared O
tiny blade, struggling to pierce the
crusted ground. The boy tenderly
scraped aside the snow that the little
plant might feel the sun, and another
warm shower of tears fell upon it as he
did SO, for he remembered his lost
mothers love for the flowers.
When Renie came again to the grave
he saw with surprise group OF lovely
white blossoms, that seemed to bend
sorrowfully over the sod. The child
knelt beside them, and strange feeling
of peace crept into his heart.
Ny mother has sent them from the
land where she dwells," he thought
"to show that she has not forgotten
. me; )" and a smile Of hope beamed or
his sad, pale face, as he looked fondly
on the flowers.
But when the peasants beheld this
mysterious little plant blossoming il
, the midst of the snow, and of kline
they had never seen before, they wert
. filed with astonishment and awe.
"It is sent from the spirit land" the,
{ whispered, "and born of Renies tears
I See how each snow-drop quivers upoi
its stem like tear about to fall Hi
mother knows his sorrow, and woult
, console him thus"
, Gradually the grief of the little bo,
became more subdued, and hope anC
cheerfulness beamed upon his face one,
more. He loved to water and nurtur,
the tender blossoms, and soon the grav
: was crowded with the delicate and grace
full flowers, gently bending towards tn
EARTH
When the next spring time came, tn
: hills were covered with the delicat
blossoms, and for many years the peas
ants named them "Renie's Csnsola
|, tion."