Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-08-05
The Water Lily.

| Down IN the depths OF the river near the
shore where the mud and slime were not
swept away by the current, grew humble
plant. The flags pressed about it, and
thrust their leaves like green swords through
the water up into the brightness and pure
air, and the eel-grass made tangled net
work above it. No one expected the little
plant to amount to much.
But lying there in the oOze, it thought
"rhe water is luminous over my head.
| There is more brightness above than have
| had. The flags and the rushes swaying
and flUttering up there whisper together of
the warm south wind, the gray clouds, and
the glory of the sun. If only could rise !
If 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! Ho" laughed the polliwogs.
tlouncing by, "what drOll leaf! When
it gets to the surface, and we are frogs,
twill be fine seat for us while we sing,
Trick -sa-triX, Trick -sa-triX,' and our old
papa plays the trombone"
''Pray, don't be too pushing" said the
of us. A plant Of your condition ought to
be modest. Don't be too pushing; no good
will come of it.
The humble plant gave no heed to its
neighbors' comments, but patiently lifted
the round leaf little higher each day.
One morning it felt a strange electric thrill
The leaf had reached the surface of the nv
er, and the sun shone upon it; and the tall
flags parted little TO make room, while
they whispered kindly Good morning,
neighbor."
Soon the humble plant found a round,
green ball in its bosom.
'Ah this is bud, it said to itself
1T shall go up to my happy leaf, and there
expand the loveliness know is hidden with
in il.
Patiently as it had lifted the leaf the
plant lifted the bud toward the sunshine.
The dreamy summer day went by, and
at last the round bud opened its sepals, and
like a radiant, golden-hearted star of snow,
a blossom lay upon the river and looked
into the sky. The red-winged blackbirds
fitting TO and fro among the flags, sang of
it; the south wind breathed its spicy fra
GRANGE; the tall flags whispered: ''How
beautiful! how beautiful! and the hope
of the humble plant was fulfilled.
Bertram krause was the son Of poor
laborer. His father wanted him 20 become
a 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 to 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 the lads thought 1t fine sport
to be his models; but his father declared
such idliDg wicked, and said:
"Who are you, Bertram Krause to de-
spise honest work such as your father has
done all his life2 You will never be worth
your salt"
One day, Bertram went to the river bank
to cut flags. He worked industrio usly all
the morning, and at noon, when he sat
down upon the shore to eat his bread and
cheese, he was hot, and after he had eaten
he stretched himself upon the grass and fell
asleep. When he awoke the first thing he
saw was water-lily shining white among
the flags.
"Hurrah" he cried, ''Hurrah! water
lily" 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 clinging to it. ''This
beauty is lowly born," he thought, as he
smelled its spicy fragrance, and with that
thought a plan and a hope came into his
mind.
His mother was a quiet woman, who had
learned to watch and wait, and she sympa-
thized with, and encouraged his dreams.
To her he went with his plan, and she pro-
cured for him sheet of coarse paper and
some crayons
With all the skill he had, he drew a
sketch of the river, the flags and the water
lily amidst them and when it was done he
carried it tremblingly to great artist in
the city.
Years rolled away and at the yearly art
exhibition at Munich picture appeared
representing a summer sky, a tangle of
reeds and flags, stretch of sullen river,
and upon the grassy shore ragged Dare
foot boy who was holding a water lily at
which he gazed with look of love ana
joy.
THAT, said an artist, sis by the cele-
brated Bertram Krause, and is called the
dawn of hope"