The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-10-12
SrlFrt Stnry.
THE WHITE LILY. =

LII W LII ~ Ill
len snid a wistful voice, ''give
me 1 8 Tom is fond of flowers"
~ Hf0nson was on her way to a
l{f6nd tA q bouquet of choice flow
eys 5ppped at this appeal, and
hooking %. saw little girl about
s.Aud is Tom2'' asked Ella,
s. 3 Ny litf blother. He fell and hurt
his back N now he can't move him
self 6e doctor says he'll never get
wcl loss wish for flowers so.'
Ella 6esiiated for moment but only
for moment. To take single flower
from her bouquet would spoil it, so per-
fectly had it been arranged; and it was
for friend, moreover, 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.
She remembered, too, the words of
Scripture, "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 her bouquets large
white liy-and gave to the child.
"There," said she, put it in water and
it will keep ever SO long; and here, she
added, as the girl with grateful looks
Turned to run away. ''is something TO
buy some cakes for your brother
Where do you liver"
The child told her, adding, "Oh, won't
Tom be glad! - and then disappeared.
1t was not long before the little thing
reached her home. 1t was a close, hot
room, at the top of the house, looking
into dirty inclosure bthind. 1
'Is that you, Lizzie ?" asked weak
voice "I'm so glad"
The speaker was lying on straw bed
on the floor, and he looked up, smiling,
into his sisters face.
"See, Tom" said his sister, producing
the cakes "these are the very kind you
like. But that's not ALL" she added, tri
umphantly producing helily; ''jast look
at this -
Toms eyes fairly glistened with de-
light. In his eagerness he half rose in
the bed, exclaiming, "Oh! what beau
lty! Where did you get it?" But the
exertion was too much tor him, and al.
most as soon as he grasped the bud he
fell back on his bed. s.
'How pure it looks" he added, weak
lily, after pause, cit makes me think OF
the angels. You good, good Lizzie y
"See, I'll put it in bottle" said Liz.
zie, sswith some water, aud it shall stand
on the floor close by you. 1t will lasl
ever so long, now. But why don't You
eat your cakes ?"
Tom shut his eyes. 81 can't, Lizzie
The said: II aia't hungry; you must eat
some yourself. will lie and look al
the flower"
Lizzie was frightened. Tom must be
very bad, she knew, If he could not ca
cakes.
SEAT little bit, DEAR" she begged
'sit will make you feel better"
II don't think shall ever be- better,
answered Tom.
The tears rolled down the sisters
face. "Don't talk SO, Tom," she sob
bed, "you shan't go. can't live with
out you. Who will be here to take car
of me p
sI've been thinking" said Tom
gravely 81 think great deal, lyins
here, that when I'm gone father will b.
different. You know"-and here h
dropped his voice and looked CAREFUL.
around, as if to see lest any one nigh
be looking, "you know that fathe
drinks, and that's why he comes hom
so late, and says he can't afford to sem
you to school; and why he is SO cross
and why, sometimes, he hates you
j Don't speak Of it, DEAR" sobbed th
sister; 81 wouldn't mind it If it WASH
for you"
sBut I do mind it, Lizzie, and
breaks my heart to lie here and see it
But sometimes think when die fathe
: will be different. He says he loves me
and it may make him good, you see.-
What is it the Bible says? 'Throus
much tribulation nr Yes; it is throug
much tribulation we win the crown
What is the verse we learned at school
!. l keep forgetting. The one about heinI
tired.'' e U8 M
sob ! 1 know" said Lizzie. "sCom
unto me all ye that are weary and ,heav
laden, and ! will give you rest" "a
"1.Come unto me;' he does not dt
ceive, Lizzie. He loves you and IN
too, and he will take care of u.s. He ]
going to give me rest up in heaven. !
But the sister was not to be comfOr
ed. Tom was all the world to her. L
lose him was to loose everything. "a. 2
The day wore on. Night came. Tor
lay looking at the lily, and NO on
knows how very many sweet thought
it suggested to him. Now and shen hi
sister left her work and came to see
he wanted anything. He always thanh
ed her with smile. t2
!. "Father is late tonight he said {
t last, when darkness came; and b
: sighed. 81 ifiI
2 "He will soon be here" said L;zz
8 uttering words of hope, in which 81
q hardly believed herself. "Try to slee
+ little, dear" Na.i 4f
s So Tom at last fell off into doze.-
Ten O'Clock came and yet 20 father :
/. Worn out with fatigue and anxiety, Ii
zie crept into bed by her brothers sic
0 and sank to sleep also.
0 1t was midnight when the father can
0 in The noise woke Tome up. He ha
rose on his elbow and looked around.-
0 At that time the moon emerged from
6 cloud and its light falling through. Il
l window, lit up the sick boys face wi
9 glory as of seraph's, Is
/ The father started back, sobered
0 once. 1t seemed to him as il halo {
rected from heaven encircled his boy
8 head. ~
? "Father," said Tom, come bel
s. please"
d The man went softly to bis sons be
er side, sank on his krees, and took t
lads wan hand tenderly in his own
was awed..
a ''Be kind to Lizzie" said Tom, wi
ii fully, looking into his fathers face.