Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-06-13

BY JOSIE c. GILL.

If you could have looked into the
Itastefully furnished room which formed
the headquarters of the young women's
Christian temperance union of Providence,
on certain Wednesday morning, y,u
would have witnessed pleasant scene.
In the centre of the room w,s long
table, piled high with bright, fragrant
blossoms, and all about it stood tie
members, whom you could distinguish by
heir white badges, busily employed in
arranging the flowers into small bouquets.
1t was flower mission day, and the
dainty punches, when arranged, were to
be tied with white ribbon, card attached
having verse of Scripture or some
selection relating to temperance, written
upon it, and then to be catered broadc ,st
among those parts of the CITY where
temperance instruction was so much nee |.
ed.
Already much good had resulted from
! this novel plan Of scattering temperance
seed, and so these girls continued to meet
one morning of each week to prepare for
it.
Upon this particular morning, there
had been a lively discussion as, to whether
they were not spending their strength for
naught.
at seems to me-" said Lena Rivers. n
young lady of decided opinions, ,"that it
is like casting pearls before swine, to be
trampled under foot and never heard from
tgain. Now think Of such sweetness, as
his, swallowed up in one Of those dirty
enement houses down bv the wharf,"
md she held up to view bouquet of
velvety pansies, mignonette and moss rose
hu1a with haok -
geranium leaves. ~ suppose it must be
sacrificed, however," continued Lena, as
she tied on card which said, "Come unto
Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden.
and will give you rest"
That afternoon the girls started out on
their errand of love, each laden with a
basket full of the fragrant treasures, and
Lena's nosegay found its way up four
flights of stairs. in dreary tenement
house, into low dark room, where sat
young woman by the open window, her
1ead upon her hands, sobbino bitterly.
She raised her head as the two Young
girls entered, and disclosed wild eyed,
'loated face. One of the girls stepped
iorward, saying: II am sorry YOU feel go
Dadly. Can we help you anyp"
She looked at them with a dali glare.
md said: Go away''-half angrily, and
tropped her head upon her han Dis again.
SO the girls placed the sweetest bouquet
IN the window beside her, and softly
withdrew. The delicate perfume of the
lowers soon attracted her attention, and
she looked up to see the little messenger
Of love beside her. Her face softened, and
she caught up the flowers and laid them
against her cheek, and burst into such an
agony of weeping that her slight form
was convulsed ~ '9 ''- =
She thought of her childhood home;
The little white cottage. standing in the
soft spring sunshine; the careworn face of
her old mother, the eyes dim with watch
ing and with tears; the flowers that grew
in the little garden in front. She thought
Of herself, child, picking whole handsful
of them. Once her soul had been as pure
IS the flowers The roses were in bloom
about the cid porch now,-why should
she not be thereP Mother would welcome
Ter with open arms, she knew. Thea, rs
he verse met her eye-"Come unto Me
I'll ye that labor and are heavy laden, and
will give you rest"-her sobs broke
orth anew o.r.rrf-'f fu..o- s~
She had heard her mother read those
words, and she knew who bid her come
into him and be at rest. Her earthly
,arent was ready to take her back to her
leart agaln-how mueh more her Heaven
y Father .....'.
And so there was Joy in Heaven that
lay over one more repentant sinner.
Thus the flowers preached their lesson,
nd the young girls never knew that the
eed which they had sown had sprung up
D BLOSSOM through eternity. 1t was such
little seed, and cost so small an effort.
ut God besses the weakest effort, and
onors each sacrifice made in loving
pirit for him.