River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-09-19
The Story OF the Lilies.

Out among the reeds, close by bank
of alders, lived a family of Pond Lilies.
In the rich, soft mud at the bottom of
the pond, Mother Pond Lily sat at her
home. Not desirable place you and a
would think, but just the place for l
Pond Lily; and Mrs. P-was in the
habit of remarkipg hat she was thankful
to be rooted in SO pleasant spos she was
sure she could never exist in such soil as
her cousin did, who lived IN a sandbank
across the channel, very much crowded
upon by the plebian yellow Dog Lily.
at will be impossible for her to raise
such a promising family as mine prom
Uses to be-
They were promising family; and
though as yet only buds they grew day
by day, breathed the air, felt the warm
sun light, and fioated round and round as
far rs their stems would let them.
They couldswing around quite circle,
for Mrs. Pond Llly was a good fumored
mother, and tied her children to her side
with good long apron string; but she
kept very firm hold of one end.
This family might have been among
the happiest, but as usual some of its
members were Disconnected.
One of them, Bold Bud, was a grum-
bier, and when the wind blew, raising
little waves, and making the Lily chill
dren dance right merrily, instead of
laughing and dancing with the rest he
growled out that his brothers iostled him,
that he wanted to be quiet.
And when the pond was still he COM
planned that it was $50 stupid" When
the sun shone it scorched him, and he
dove under the water in pet; and when
it was cloudy his complaint took still
more dismal tone.
On one point, however, Bold Bud had
always the same mind--the mind to float
off independently, and see the world on
his own hook.
"No, my child" said his mother, "thIs
is the place for you. God placed you
here to grow into a beautiful flower; that
is your mission When you are old
enough you can open your eyes and see
the wonderful sky and green earth-un
til then be patient"
But Bold Bud was cOnceited and wilful.
He thought to himself II guess | know
what wish" So one night he coaxed
miscellaneous ad-pole to gnaw off the
stem which held him, and away he floated
into the channel.
Oh! but it was delightful, sailing so
fast with the current, faster and faster.
"See how smart am, thought this Bold
Bud, "Others mag stay in miserable
mud hole all their lives if they choose,
not Il T. But soon 1t began to go roo fast
for comfort; Bold Bud was whirled round
and round until dizzy; there was terrible
which seemed to make the waters trem-
BILE: in vain Bold Bud tried to catch at a
cliff; he was swept over the dam and
broken on the rocks below. That was
the end of Bold Bud.
The tiny bud Of the family always
laid close under the bank. She only got
the sun on one side and that made her
grow ont Of shape. but she seemed all
the more sweet tempered for her mjsfor
tune, and the Lily Mother loved her best
of all and tried to make her strong and
comely.
"Shall never be handsome9" sighed
Tiny Bud.
"You shall smell very, very sweet, /"
said the mother. And Tiny Bud was sat
isfied. for she thought, shall be loved
for my fragrance if not tor my beauty.
/ will be as happy and cheerful as can,
that may grow sweeter and sweeter."
But the Lily Children that / wished
especially to introduce to you grew side
by side in the broad sunlight, and every
evening found them grown little larger.
.sWhen shall openin said one of them,
Silly Bud by name. Il do wish to see
myself in white and gold
sHave patience" said the mother over
and over again." the longer you wait the
more beautiful you'll be" But Silly Bud
would not be patient, she tried to futter
her petals open more and more every day.
s'You will repent it, said the mother.
"The half-grown bud makes miserable
flower. Laugh and dance and grow with
the rest; l will be sure to tell you when it
it is time to open"
But the constant cry of Silly Bud was,
'Let me, please let me, be flower to
dayln
At last, quite worn out, Mrs. P. said
she might be flower if she would, If |
only to be warning TO her brothers and |
sisters.
1t was chilly morning when silly 1
Bud began TO open her outer leaves.
She burst them rudely, for they were |
not yet ready to unclose, and the e1ge OF |
one was torn. At last, enc by one, her
pstals slowly spread but when silly Bud
looked in the water u see herself these
were not so white as she had expected,
nor was her heart so yellow. The sky she
had longed to see was not 50 beautiful, /
being leaden Instead OF blue, the trees
were not so green, the birds only twittered, |
and, worse than all, keen wind swept |
over the water, mixing the timid young
Silly Bud shiver in her white dress. !