Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1875-05-21
Selttted 5elistellanp,
THE WHITE LILY.

=" Please" said wistful voice, "give
me flower Tom is fond of flowers" "
Ella Bronson was on her way to
friends, with boquet of choice flowers.
She stopped at this appeal and looking
down, saw little girl, about twelve
years old.
And who is Tom q asked Ella,
touched.
d" My little brother. lie fell and hurt
his back, and he can't move himself.
The doctor says he'll never get well
and he does wish for flowers so.
Ella hestutcd for moment, but only
for moment. To take Il single flower
from her boquet would spoil it, so per-
fectly had it been arranged; and it was
for friend, however, who was about to
be married But the pleading face of
the child, and the thought of the sick
brother, were more than she could bear.
g Inasmuch 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 it in water
and it will keep ever SO long. And
here" she added, as the girl turned to
run away, lis something to buy few
cakes for your brother. Where do you
live Z"
The child told her, adding, "Ob,
won't Tom be glad p and then disap-
peared.
1t was not long before the little thing
reached home. 1t was a close, hot room,
at the top of the house, looking into
dirty inclosure behind.
9 Is that you, Lizzy?" asked a weak
voice, i am so glad
The speaker was lying on straw bed,
on the floor, and he looked up smiling
into his sisters face
d" See here" Tom, said the sister,
producing the cakes. " These are the
very kind you like. But that's not all +"
she added, triumphantly producing the
lily. "Just look at this p
Toms eyes glistened with delight In
his eagerness he bali rose in bed, ex-
Ginning" Oh? what beauty
Where did you get it p But the excr-
ton was most too much for him, and al
most as soon as be had grasped the bud
he fell back on his bed
How pure it looks p he added,
weakly, after pause /; :" it makes me
think of the angels. You good, good
Lizzy p
See, III put it in this 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 p
Tom shut his eyes g can't, Lzzy,"
he said Il amt hungry. You must
eat yourself. / will lie and look at the
flower"
Lizzy was frightened Tom must be
very bad, she knew, if she could not eat
cakes.
+" Eat little bit, dear" she begged.
" 1t will make you feel better"
Il don't think | shall ever be better"
answered Tom.
The tears rolled down bis sisters face.
Don't talk so, Tom" she sobbed.
@ You shan't go. l can't live without
you. Who will be here to take care of
me p
1--WE been thinking" said Tom,
gravcly, Il think great deal lying
here, that when I'm gone father will be
different. You know" aud here he
dropped bis voice, and looked carefully
around, as if to see lest any one might
be listening, 'you know that father
drinks, and that's why be comes home so
late, and says he can't afford to send you
to school; and why be is so cross and
why sometimes he beats you"
9 Don't speak of it DEAR" sobbed the
sister II wouldn't mind it if it wasn't
for you"
g But do mind it, Lizzy; and it
breaks my heart to lie here and see it.
But sometime | tbiuk, when die, faith
er will be different. He says he loves
me. and it make him good, you see.
What is it the Bible says? Through
-pucb fribulafion Voc II x .hrouoL