Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-05-22
The sfay Flowers.

On sunny hillside grew n little
colony Of May flowers. They had slept
quietly through the long winter. tucked
up. snug and warm. in their covering Of
snow; and now the bright sun looked
down on them. and the wind stirred
them, and the birds called 10 them. and
they raised their strong. hardy leaves.
and lifted up their stems Of small buds.
and rcioiced that spring was near. A
little girl came out among them. She
said 10 herself: ] am going away to-
morrow. can't stay to see the dear
May flowers open. 50 / will take some Of
them with me, and keep them in water.
and they will remind me Of this beauii-
iul place, and perhaps they vii
blossom
Oh said the May flowers. please
don't take Us" b
But the wind blew 30 that Mary. the
little girl. did not hear them. and she
pulled stem after stem. till she had As
many n she could hold in her small
hands. Then she looked around her
AT the blue sky. and the branches Of the
tree, against it. and the soft, dead leaves
nying in the wind, and the patches Of
white snow in the hOllows: and away in
the distance the lighthouse and the
blue water.
She said goodbye 10 il all. for she was
afraid she might not see IL again soon:
and the little May flowers said goodbye
10 IL. too.
The next day Mary tied the Nav flow
RS together, and wound 4 piece Of wet
iper around their stems. and thcys
Iarted on their journey.
The cars were crowded and hot. and
Mary held the flowers very tight for fear
Of losing them. and the tall people rested
their elbows on them, and the stout ones
pushed against them. and they thought
they would die.
But soon the paper was taken of. and
the string was united, and they were
put into vase Of water.
The little May flowers drooped for a
time. and could not hold up their heads.
Mary set them in the open window.
and a gay bird in a cage sang TO them: hut
they mourned for their pleasant home.
and they did not Ike TO stand with their
feet in the water and they said:
let Us give up in despair
Then the bird sang, Cheer up cheer
up chirrupl chirrupr
They did not listen 10 him at first. but
by-and-bye they said 20 him:
Why do you say that 10 US? Do YOU
know that we have been taken from our
home and our friends on the hillside.
where the sun sbone, and the birds sang
all around US? How can we live and be
happy here. and with our feet in the
water, tou?'
But the bird said: Cheer up! The
sun Is shining on you, and l am singing
20 sou as well as ! can. and how much
better Il will he for YOU to blossom and
be beautiful. and make some one happy,
than to do nothing but wither and be
thrown away. DO YOU think I like 10
he here, shut up in this cage. when I
have wings to fyg Mo- If this cage
door should be let open. you would see
me fly up to that chimney in n second
Gould youg said the little flowers.
Yes. indeed. said the bird. -
Would youT said the flowers.
Yes said the bird, and then into
that tree. and then away 10 the woods
somewhere. But while I am here. I
think ! may as well sing and he gay
Perhaps he Is right thought tho
flowers; so they lifted their heads and
looked up.
Mary gave them fresh water every day.
and loved them dearly. and talked 10
them of the beautiful hillside; and the
cheerful bird sang TO them. and at last
the little buds began to grow and make
the best Of IT,
One bright morning. just two weeks
after they were gathered. the largest
bud opened its petals. and blossomed into
n full-grown MAY fowerl
II wss white. with lovely tinge OF
pink, and oh. 50 fragrant Mary almost
cried with delight, and she kissed o.
dear flower. and carried II TO every ono
In the house 10 be admired. The bird
stood on tip-toc on his highest perch and
happed his wings, and sang his best
song.
Was I rightP said he. Did 7 give
You good ndvicer
las, said the flowers. you were
right. To blossom and be beautiful.
and make some ono happy, Is better than
TO give up In despair and do nothing -
AHaic Moore. IN 81. Nicholas.