Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-09-27

The two other children were toiling

cups and sorrel. They worked like
beavers; and soon the punches were al
most too big for their little hands.
Then they came running to give them
to their mother. "Oh, DEAR" thought
l, "how that poor, tired woman will
hate to open her eyes; and she never
can take those great punches of common
fading flowers, in addition so all her
bundles and bags" I was mistaken.
Oh, thank you, my darlings! How
kind you were! Poor, hot, tired little
flowers, how thirsty they look! If they
will only try and keep alive till we get
home, we will make them very happy
in some water; won't we? And you
shall put one bunch by papa's plate and
one by mine"
Sweet and happy, the weary and
flushed little children stood looking up
in her face while she talked, her heart
thrilling with compassion for the droop-
ing flowers and with delight in the Civ
ing of their gift. Then she took great
trouble to geta string and tie the flow
ers, and then the train came, and we
went whirlinS along again. Soon it
grew dark, and little Annals head nod
ded. Then 1 heard the mother say to
the Oldest boy, "Dear, are you too
tired to let little Anna put her head on
your shoulder and take a little nap
We shall get her home in much better
state to see papa if we can manage to
give her sleep" How many boys of
twelve years hear such words as these
from tired overburdened mothers?
Soon came the city, the final station
with it's hustle and noise. I fingered
to watch my happy family, hoping to
see the father. Why, papa isn't
here!' exclaimed one disappointed little
voice after another.
Never mind" said the mother, with
a still deeper disappointment in her own
tone; "perhaps he had to go to see
some poor body who is sick" In the
hurry of picking up all the parcels, and
the sleepy babies, the poor daisies and
the buttercups were left forgotten in a
corner of the rack. I wondered if the
mother had not intended this. May
be forgiven for the injustice? A few
minutes after I passed the little group,
standing still just outside the station,
and heard the mother say, "Oh, my
darlings, I have forgotten your pretty
bouquets. I am sorry! 1 wonder if
could find them if 1 went back. Will
you all staud still and not stir from this
spot if 1 do?'
ooh, mama, don't go, don't go. We
will get you some more. Don't co.
cried all the children.
"Here are your flowers, madam" :"
said l, 81 saw that you had forgotten
them and took them as mementoes of
you and your sweet children" She
blushed and looked disconnected. She
was evidently unused to people, and
shy with all but her children. How
ever, she thanked me very sweetly and
said:
Il was very sorry about them. The
children took such pains to get them ;
and 1 think they will revive in water
They cannot be quite dead"
"They will nerer die!' said I, with
an emphases that went straight from
my heart to hers. Then all her shy
ness fled. She knew me; and we shook
hands and smiled into each others
eyes the smile of kindred as we parted.
AS I followed on I heard the two
children who were walking behind, say
to each other: Wouldn't that have
been too bad? Mama liked them so
much, and we never could have got so
many all at once again"
AOo, VIZ Coulu ueAU summer, SAID
the boy, sturdily.
They are sure of their " next sum-
mer," Think, all six of them-children
and mother, and father. They may
never again gather SO many ox-eyed
daisies and buttercups call at once. "
Perhaps some of the little hands have
already picked their last flowers. New
ertheless, their summers are certain.
10 such souls as these, all trees, either
here orin Gods larger country, are Trees
OF Life, with twelve manner of fruits
and leaves for healing; and it is but
little change from the summers here,
whose suns burn and make weary to
the summer there, on which "the
Lamb is the light"
IL