Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-07-22
THE WHITE LILY.

me flower. Tom is fond of flowers.
Ella Bronson was on her way to {
friends, with boquet Of flowers
She stopped, at this appeal, and look
ing down, saw a little girl, about
twelve years old.
And who is Tom2 asked Ella
touched.
My little brother. He fell and
hurt his back, and now he can't
move himself The doctor says he'll
never get well !; and he does wish fol
flowers So
Ella hesitated for a moment but
only for moment. To take a sim
gle flower from her boquet wonld
spoil it, so perfectly had it been ar,
ranged and it was for friend
moreover, who was ABOUT to be mar
ried. But the pleading face of the
child, and the thought of the sick
brother, were more than she could
bear. She remembered, TOO, the
words of scr pture, i lasmach as ye
have done it unto one of the least OF
these, ye have done it unto me- She
selected the finest flower in the
boquet, large white lily, and gave
it to the child.
There she said, put in water and
it will keep ever so long. And there,
she added, as the girl with grateful
looks, turned to run away SIS some
thing to buy few cakes for your
brother. Who're do you live p
The child told her, adding, oh,
won't Tom be glad 2 and then dIsap-
peared.
1t was not long before the little
thing reached her homo. 1t was a
close, hot room. at the top of the
house, looking into dirty Enclosure
behind
is that you, Lizzy p asked a weak
voice. Pm SO glad
The speaker was lying on a straw
bed, on the floor, and he looked up,
smiling, into his sisters face.
See here, Tom,' said the sister,
producing the cakes. 'These are The
very kind you like. But that's not
ALL she added, triumphantly produc-
ing the lily. Just look at this!'
Toms eyes fairly gIistened with
delight. In his eagerness he half
rose in bed, exclaiming. oh what
beauty! Where did you get it p
But the exertIon was to much for
him, and almost as soon as be had
rrasped the bud, he fell back on his
bed.
Glow pure it looks, he added,
weakly, after pause lit makes me
think of the angels. You good, good
Lizzy 7
See, I'll put it in BOTTLE said
Lizzy, with some water, and it shall
stand on the floor close by you. 1t
will last ever so long, now. But
why don't you eat your cakes 2
Tom shut his eyes. i can't Lizzy,'
he said. i amt hungry. You must
eat yourself | will lie and look at
the flower.
Lizzy was frightened. Tom must
be very bad, she know, if he could
not eat cakes.
Eat little bit, DEAR she begged.
1t will make you feel BETTER
Il don't think [ shall ever be bet
ter answered Tom.
The tears rolled down the sisters
face. Don't talk so, Tom, she sob
bed. You sbau't go. | can't live
without you. Who will be here to
take care Of me?'
'I've been thinking,' said Tom,
gravely, i think great deal lying
here, that when I'm gone, father will
be different. You know and he
dropped his voice, aud looked care
fully around, as if to see lest any one
might be listening, you know that
father drinks, and that's why he
comes home so late, and says he can't
afford to send you to school; and
why, sometimes, be beats you
Don't speak of it dear, sobbed the
sister. Il wouldn't mind, if it wasn't
for you
But 1 do mind if, Lizzy and it
breaks my heart to lie here and see
| it. But sometimes l think, when |
die, father will be different. He
says be loves me, and it may make
him good, you see. What is it the
Bible says? Through mach tribula-
ton. Yes it is through much tribu-
Iation, we win the crown. What
was the verse we learned at school
| keep forgetting. The one about be-
ing tired
oh know said Lizzy. "Come
unto me all that are weary and
heavy laden, and | will! give you
rest
Come unto me ! repeated the
brother. H. does not deceive, Liz
zy. He loves you and me, too, and
he will take care of us. He is going
to give me rest in heaven
But the sister was not to be com
forted, Tom was all the world tt
her. To lose him was to lose every
thing.
The day wore on. Night came
Tom looking at the lily, and no on'
knows how many sweet thoughts i
suggested to him. Now and theI
his sister left her work, and came Il
see if he wanted anything. He Away
thanked hSr with sweet smile.
'Father is late, tonight, he said a
last when the darkness came and h
sighed.
He will be here soon, SAID Liz,
uttering words of hope, in which sh
hardly believed herself. Try t
, sleep q little, dear.
SO Tom at last fell into a doze
Ten O'Clock came, and yet no father
Worn out with fatigue and anxiety
Lizzy crept into bed by her brother
: side, and sank to sleep also
1t was midnight when the fathe
came in. The noise woke Tom NJ
He half rose on his elbow and locke
around. At that moment the moo