The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-04-17
Aunsehula aTntds.
From the New York Observer.
WHITE CHRYsAETHEMUMs.
A CHAPTER OF HUMAN LIFE.

She was quite an old maid when l first
knew her,-the quaint little brOwn-eyed vii
lage dressmaker, whose life-stOry l am going
to tell you. l think she must have been
pretty in her girlhood, but there was nothing
left of that. The sweet and peaceful ex-
preston of her oOuntenanee was the growth
Of soul lOVeliness, not the lingering trace of
youthful beauty. She had her odd little
ways to be sure an old-timed primness Of
speech, precise little nestness (though l
never knew she made the latter trouble to
anybody but herself,) liking for Old-fashz
toned ways of thought in books and flowers
and dress, and little huttering shyness when
che came in contact with strangers Yetshe
was full of loving kindness, especially to lit
tie children and young girls, seeming to have
kept fresh in her heart 81 the early dew Of
morning"
1t was with pleasure as pure and spon-
taneOus as a ohild's, that she smiled upon 8
bowl of white cbrysanthemums which stood
upon my workable one breezy sunny No
vember morning. She had come to help me
with the boys winter suits, and the busy,
work worn fingers were opening the retiCule
and fitting on the old silver thimble, even
while she looked and smiled.
81 lore the dear, Old-fsshioned things"
she said, softly. "Well, Mrs. Baker, what
shall 1 begin on I shall work ell the better
for them"
loved to hear her talk, so when the work
was arranged, and our busy needles flashed
in the sunshine, asked: "DO you love the
chrysanthemums better than the roses, Miss
Hetty?"
Yes, I do, she answered, quickly,
though maybe it isn't good taste to say So.
You see, my dear Mrs. Baker, they have
taught me many lesson with'their fair, still
face, or rather the Lord has, through them.
I've often thought how full of tender mercies
aud loving thoughts toward US He must be
to preach his sermons to US through the
beautiful flowers"
I looked at Miss Hetty's flying fingers,
and face dropped over her work, and Won
dered how she, in her life of toll, had found
time to read Natures cypher" with so clear
an eye. For the pretty autumn flowers
which filed my garden had never been
thought-laden to my ken. told her so, and
asked what they had said to her.
"A bit of hope and a bit of reprOof, she
said, looking up at the flowers a moment and
then down at her work again. "You see,
Mrs. Baker, there was time when thought
my life very scans of blessings and scarcely
worth living for, with just one day of work
treading on the heels of tie other. 1 had
grown tired of waiting on the Lord, and mis-
trussful of His promises. And then these
pure white flowers, coming out just st the
autumn time, when sll the others were going
or gone, seemed TO say to me: Do not fear
to trust Him; We, too, were fearful opee;
but His word is sure, and His time is best.
In the spring-time, when the violets and the
lilies bloomed, We were barren and mourned;
through the summer, when the roses opened,
we waited for His word, but our blossom
time came not. But now in the autumn
sunshine our hour of bloom and brightness is
come. Wait 90 the Lord. The flowers will
come to your life, too, some day"
Miss Hetty's eyes were full Of mingled
smiles and tears as she glanced up at me.
"Why, Miss Hotty, it is like bit of poe
try" l said.
The little woman looked startled, then
shook her head
eff it is poetry, it is Gods, not mine, -
she said, reverently and humbly.
81 think flowers are Gods poems, said.
Miss Hetty smiled and nodded.
"But it is not easy to put the flowers SER
mon into practice any more than one of our
minister's" went on. Awaiting is hard
work at the best"
"The children think the lesson they are
studying harder than those that went before,
or can come after" answered Miss Hetty,
and l think We sometimes think the same
of the lessons the Lord sets Us. But He sees
it is just what we need at just that time 10
His school, and lie keeps Us st it,-but oh
50 patiently, SO lovingly. We all want our
good times now, Ike Impatience in The
Pilgrims Progress but He knows it is bet
ter for us to wait.
"Miss Hetty, how did you learn all this ?"
asked, wonderingly.
"The Lord has been teaching ne year
after year, she said, with her quaint smile;
but I've been a dull scholar. I've blum
dered and forgotten and mistrusted."
"Bus don't you think it hard to wait? ?" |
{ &c 1900 - rvosA