The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-05-24
THERE Is A DIFFERENCE. "
BYHASs CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.


THERE is A DIFFERENCE"
BYHAHs CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
1t was in the month of May the wind
was still cold, but trees and bushes, fields
and meadows. all proclaimed that spring
where, even the hedges were full of them,
alive with them one might say it seemed
as though they were the language wherein
spring announced herself, every single
bright blossom gladstone word of greet
ing.
little apple tree, and in that tree was one
bough especially fresh and blooming, com
pletely weighed down by it's wealth of de-
licate rosy buds, just ready to open. This
bough was so lovely, it could not help
KNOWING it, and therefore it was not one
sing along the road, stopped in front of it,
ande young countess sitting in the car
riage declared that of all the sweet, bright
things of spring, that apple Dough Yves the
sweetest and brightest of all.
And the apple-boush was broken off,
and the young countess held it in her own
dainty hand, shading it from the saa with
her silk parasol !; aud they drove on to
her home, a stately castle, full of lofty
walls and decorated saloons, where gauzy
white curtains futtered at the open win
dows, and transparent vases stood full of
which was carved as it were out "of Dew-
fallen snow, the apple bough was 'Piaced
among fresh, light-gre beech-leaves, and
pretty sight twas!
And go it came to pass that the apple
boIgh grew proud, quite like human
being.
All sorts of people passed through the
rooms, and expressed their admiration
adversely ; some said too much, some eaid
too little, some said nothing at all = and
the apple boueh began ito understand that
there is difference between human beings
as between vegetables. "Some are foruse,
some are for ornament, and some could be
dispensed with altogether" thought the
apple Dough. Aud as his position at the
open window commanded view over
gardens and nmeadows below, he could
look down upon all sorts of flowers and
plants, consider, and draw dist ctions
between them. They all stood beneath
him,-some rich, some poor, some TOO
poor.
,"Miaerable, rejected herbs !" .quoth the
apple-bough. sIt is right and just that a
distinction should be made, and yet how
unhappy they must feel, if indeed that sort
of creature is capable of feeling, like nae
and my equals there is indeed differ
ence, bat it must be made, else all would
be treated as though they were alike
And the apple bough looked down with
especial compassion upon one KIND OF
flowers that grew in multitodes upon the
meadows and bitches no one gathered
them for bouquets, they were too common,
they could be found spripgiDg up even be-
tween the paving stones ; they shot up
everywhere, the rankest meet worthless OF
weeds,-they were the dandelions, but the
lower claesee in Denmark have given them
the name of milk pails."
"Poor deepised outcasts !" went on the
apple bougb, "you cannot help being what
yoa are so common, and with such a vul-
Pnf 10 with vpUnfahlPa
with men, there must be difference"
ga difference I" repeated the Sunbeam,
as it kissed the blossomipg apple bough
and then on to kiss also the golden "Milk-
pails',soUt in the fields. And the Sunbeam'e
sisters all did the same, kissing all the
flowers equally, poor as we'll as rich.
Now the apple bough had never thought
about our Lords infinite love for all that
lives and moves in Him, had never thought
how much that is good and beautiful car
lie hidden, but not forgotten. The apple:
bough had lived with human beings, and
grown like them in this.
But the glorious Sunbeam knew better
"You are neither clear nor far sighted
What lie this outcast herb that you are
plying 30 much 2"
"The Milk pals down there" replied
p the apple bough; 4 they are never tied up
IN bouquets, they are trodden under foot
there are too many of them, and when
they run to seed they fly about in small
bits of wool, and hang upon peoples
clothes. Weeds weeds but they must
be as they are. | am really and truly
grateful that am not as one of them."'
And now a whole troop Of children roam
ed over the meadow, the youDgest of the m
so tiny that he had to be carried by the
others and as he was now set down in
the grass among the golden blossoms, he
laughed for joy, kicked about with his
legs, rolled over aud over, and plucked
none but the yellow dandelions, which he
kissed in his innocent delight. The big
ger children busted themselves in break
ing the flowers of the dandelions off from
their hollow stake, and joining these stalks
into chains, first one for a necklace, then a
longer chain to hang across the shoulders
and round the waist, and last, a third for
a circlet round the head very soon they
stOnd hrraHe ed in nnlendid green shhins.