Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-05-01
The Water Lily.

shore where the mud and slime were no,
swept away by the current, grew humble
| plant. The flags pressed about it, and
thrust their leaves like green sword:
through the water up into the brightness
and pure air. and The eel grass made tam
| oled network above it. No one expected
the little plant to amount TO much.
But lying there in the cove, it thought
The water is luminous over my head.
There is more brightness above than have
had. The flags and rushes swaying and
fultering up there whisper together of the
warm south wind, the gray clouds. and
the glory OF the sun. If l only could rise ,
II only could. -
By and by the plant sent forth leaf. an
odd. round thing like fan. and slowly it
lifted the leaf on the summit of its flexible
stem toward the surface of the water.
Ho! no." lauhged the polliwogs,
founcing by. what u droll leaf. When
II gets to the surface. and we are frogs,
twill be fine seat for US while we sing.
Trick-sa-trix, Trek .a.trix,' and our old
papa plays the trombone"
Pray, don't be too pushing said the
duckweed. You're as well of as the
rest Of US. A plant of your condition
ought to be modest. Don't be too push
ing; no good will come of ii.
The humble plant gave no heed to its
neighbors comments, but patiently lifted
the round leaf little higher each day.
One morning it felt strange electric
thrill. The leaf had reached the surface
of the river, and the sun shone upon it;
and the tall flags parted little to make
room, while they whspere kindly, " Good
morning, neighbor."
Soon the humble plant found round,
green ball in its bosom.
"Ah. this is i bud it said to itself.
" II shall 60 up to my happy leaf, and
there expand the lovelness | know is hid
den within it,"
Patiently. as it had lifted the leaf, the
plant lifted the bud toward the light and
sunshine.
The dreamy summer days went by, and
at last the round bud opened its sepals,
and like radiant, golden-hearted star of
snow, blossom lay upon the river and
looked into the sky. The red-winged
blackbirds, fitting to and fro among the
flags. sang of il; the south wind breathed
its spicy fragrance; the tall flags wills
pered: How beautiful. how beautiful! "
and the hope of the humble plant was full
filled.
Bertram krause was the son of a poor
laborer. His father wanted him TO become
smith.
"Ah, now, if Bertram could shoe an OK
or mend a cart wheel, that's all I'd ASK =
he would say.
But Bertram had different aspirations
for himself. He wished 10 become An art
ist and paint great pictures like those in
the cathedral into which he often stole to
dream and hope.
| With bit of charcoal he could sketch
anything. and tae lads thought it fine sport
to be his models; but his father declared
such idling wicked. and said:
Who are you, Bertram Krause, to des-
pise honest work, such as your father has
done all his life? You will never be worth
your salt
One day Beriram went 10 the river bank
10 cut flags. He worked industrously all
the morning, and at noon. when he sat
down upon The shore 10 eat his bread and
cheese, he was hot, and after he had eaten
he stretched himself upon the grass and
4 fell asleep. When he awoke the first thing
be saw was u water.lily, shining white
among the flags.
Hurrah, be cried, " Hurrah, Il WA
Ter hly!" and quickly springing up. he
waded into the water and picked it. With
the blossom came the long, trailing stem,
the mud and slime still rlinging TO it.
- This beauty is lowly born" he thought.
as he smeled its spicy fragrance, and with
that thought plan and a hope came into
/ his mind.
His mother was quiet woman, who
had learned TO watch and wait, and she
sympathized with him. and encouraged
his dreams. To her he went with his
plan, and she procured for him Il sheet OF
coarse paper and some crayons.
With all the skill he had, he drew a
sketch of the river, the flags and the VIA
ter lily amidst them. and when it was done
carried it tremb.ingly TO great artist in
the city.