Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-05-16
The Mission Of the MayflOwers.

Out in the sweet, fresh air, under the
stately old trees that bore the marks of
the progress Of time, where the sunbeams
glanced ftfully over patches Of moss or
evergreen or the low shrubs, grew the trail
ing arbutus vines with their modest fragrant
blossoms. They developed their pink bios.
SONS rapidly in the warmth that had melted
the heart Of winter, and the robins built in
the trees above them and chirruped so lust
lily that the flowers must needs open their
eyes to see what had happened.
They caught all the inspiriting influences
of the sun and air in their delicate chal-
ices while the strong, rusty leaves spoke
very plainly of the strength and vigor of
mother Earth. They did not murmur, then,
when May and Ernest Kicker gathered
them and piled them into great basket to
carry them away, for they seemed to know
their mission was to 60 out into the world
and scatter the sunshine they had received,
After the children had bound them into
punches they kissed their mother at the
cottage door and trudged away down the
long road TO the city.
A small stand at favorable corner, ar
ranged with the fragrant bouquets in groups
or mounds, and the two rosy children in the
background, formed pleasant picture. The
first customer was an old gentleman who
took two punches for bis two grandchildren
and at the same time patted Ernest upon
the shoulder and smoothed Mays hair, leav-
ing them with few encouraging words
worth far more than money.
A poor sewing girl passed them. She
came back, and hesitated and repassed,
looking longingly at the flowers. Then she
returned and came up and paid for a bunch.
She caught them from Mays hand and
pressed them lightly to her lips and then
the tears came streaming down her face, but
she pulled down her veil and walked rapidly
away, as If ashamed of her weakness. May
stared after her moment when she felt a
heavy hand upon her arm and heard an ex-
cited voice exclaim:
"Tell me, gi,l, did she have black eyes,
and was there scar upon her face ?"
She turned and saw man OF fifty impa-
tiently waiting for an answer.
Yes, sir, her eyes were black" replied
May. "And noticed a red place here, like
horseshoe"
"My God p cried the man, ait must be
Eva p and then he strobe away in the direc-
tion the sewing girl had taken.
She entered her room and procuring q
broken cup placed her flowers in water.
Then she flung herself down by the one
rickety chair and tried to pray.
"Oh, heaven take me she moaned. al
was once so happy and now | am SO miser-
able. Oh, how l have sinned A drunk
ards child, cast off from peoples society by
fathers misdeeds Poor father He was
not all to blame What memories these
simple flowers have awakened The old
home and the woods and fields If | could
only go there once more to feel the fresh
spring air. Heaven is sweeter. One leap
into the river and all is over p
Her means and sobs grew so violent that
she did not heed the opening of the door nor
see the handsome elderly man that entered.
"Let me die" she sobbed. "Oh, let me
die while have yet pure character o
Father in Heaven, would it be wrong to end
such life ?" She raised her eyes to the
window and her gaze fell upon the May
flowers. She took them and laid them
against her cheek and they brushed the
horseshoe-shaped scar.
"Poor little darlings," she said, =" I cannot
afford you very dainty throne, nothing
but a broken cup. And yet you bid me
live. You whisper all sweet things to me
and soften and tighten my tired heart.
Dear flowers, perhaps God sent you to me
to bid me live on and wait patiently for his
chosen time"
A groan from the man who had entered
betrayed his presence apd the girl started to
her feet.
"Eva Oh, forgive me he faltered.
Father dear father she cried and
fell half,fainting at his feet. He raised
her and when she could listen he explained
in few words all that had happened since
their last dreadful parting. He was carried
to prison for some crime committed while
under the influence Of liquor and had time
to review his past life and repent and re-
form. When he left prison he could find
no trace of his child and buffeted from point
to point he at length took ship for Aus.
tralia. Fortune smiled upon him, and he
gained enough to establish himself in bust
ness, and three years search had given him
back his daughter
Her story was soon told Driven from
her home by strangers, she supported herself
by sewing. A young man of questionable
character prosecuted her with his attentions
and to escape him she fled from place to
place. Life became burden and that very
morning she resolved to end it. She started
for the river to cast herself into its depths
when she saw the Mayaowers and could not
resist the desire to buy them. The last
money In her possession was paid for them
but her life was saved, and she hastened
home shuddering at her own thoughts.
A few minutes later the father and daugh-
ter left that wretched room and its attend
ing poverty behind them forever.
There was another bunch of blossoms that
grew upon the same vine from which those
sprang that the sewing girl had purchased.
Inhpnu / Iat tfru n NJ thQun N ba atnnd ha
stand watching Ernest and May as they
chatted together, Johnny WAS o. ragged as
any little street urchin though his face was
tolerably clean.
al guess as how some of them ere posies
would be better for Jim than med cine" he
muttered. He amt had nothing nice for
so long reckon he'd feel better If he had
some Of them an I'm goin' TO AZ the price,"
So he advanced 10 Ernest with the query,
"What will yer take for one of them |"
"Ten cents" replied Ernest regarding
his customer little distrustfully.
"Then I'll take this one" said Johnny,
and depositing the money in Mays open
hand he seized the flowers and fled up the
street.
He turned TO the poorer portion of the
city up dismal fight of stairs into dingy
little room where sick boy lay upon q
straw bed in the corner. A dirty quilt was
spread over him and soiled case covered
the pillow. Johnny held the flowers behind
him as he approached the bed On tiptoe.
But Jim was not asleep, and his face lighted
up with rare smile as he saw his brother.
"lve brought ye suthin,' Jim," said
Johnny, and then he held out the May
flowers.
"Oh oh !" cried the boy in tone OF de-
light. Real Mayhowers Where did you
get them, johnny"
"l bought 'em for ye, but don't ye worry,
for | could afford Il, and Wen have ia.
nous supper tonight, jim. I've been lucky
terday."