The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-11
For the New York obserser.l s-a
TINS SPRING FLOWERS.
BY A. N. TURNER.

{
% ties OF the town joined in one shrill cl
~ ~ rus.
81 was sure that train would go rig
through my headP he groazed alou
- but it's the noon express and moth
IN will soon be home from the factory"
= And, sure enough, in few minutes
slow, weary step was heard on the thres
old, and gentle, WORKOUT looking v
man, wrapped in a threadbare shar
softly opened the door and entered Il
room. Tim lay with closed eyes.
g Are you asleep, Tim?" asked b
y mother.
- mo, mother" answered Tim, '-on
70 tired. But I'm so glad you've come"
Poor little bOy!' said his mothe
e Kissing him, 81 wish could be with yo
e all day"
'Oh, wasn't very lonesome" mu
r INJURED Tim, trying to smile and to loo
brave, 81 thought of all the stories
'e used to read before was sick, and whe
% Grandma Brown came in to give me m
cruel she opened the window, and
heard some little sparrows chirpiDg an
saw the sun shine so brightly on tn
i houses opposite that half believed
r was out Of doors"
4 Yes, it has been lovely May day,
: observed Mrs Grover with sigh.
is the grass growing green, mother?
asked Tim.
"Ies, indeed" replied his mother
''and this noon on my way home passet
the minister's house and noticed tha
the front lawn is full of little crocu
blossoms, purple and yellow and white
"HOw | do wish | could go out O
! doors?" sighed Tim Don't you thin.
| can 90 by Sunday, motherg'
Mrs. Grover smiled sadly as she an
swered, THE doctor saws, you know
that you will be lucky If you can get out
in a month"
THAT is so long to wait" said Tim
Il know should get we'll if only had
some flowers"
Tins mother thought of the little
money her work in the factory brought
4 in, and wondered how she could manage
to buy flowers out of the scanty store,
But she said nothing and busted herself
about getting dinner. This was no very
difficult task, for mother and son break
tasted, dined and supped on Cruel and
| Cruel alone; the son because he was
sick, the mother because her slender
purse could afford no more substantial
nOurishment. Then Mrs. Grover sat
down beside her sick boy and held his
hand and smoothed his fevered brow,
rntil he fell into troubled sleep, in
which he kept muttering something
about flowers and green grass and birds
| His mother hOvered over him for some
moments, wondering what else she could
give up so that her sick child might
have some of the beautiful things he
lOnged for. Then the factory whistles
again warned her that it~was time to go
back to work, and, pressing light kiss
on the forehead of the sleeping boy, she
threw her shawl around her and softly
closed the door after her.
Tim slept in troubled sort of way for
long time, nor did he wake until Grand
ma Brown again brought him his Cruel.
The sun was now quite in the west, and
shone brightly into the dismal little
room.
Grandma" said Tim, "pIease open
the window just as you did this morning;
the sun will shine in now"
The good old lady raised the sash, and
4 food of bright sunlight poured into
the room, bringing a summer-like
warmth with it..
How good that isr' exclaimed Tim
with delight "If | could only look out
know | could see the willow tree over,
by the factory; it is always little green
before anything else.
"Well, Tim, said Grandma Brown
kindly, "Tll roll your bed UP to the win
dow for few minutes. Then if you are
wrapped up in this thick blanket, you
can be bolstered up with pillows and
look out.
THAT will be fne," cried Tim, his
pale face contrasting sadly with his glee-
full voice.
So0n all the arrangements were made,
and Tim, wrapped up in great gray
army blanket, which had been all
through the war with his father, now
dead, leaned his head against the pillows,
while he drank in the pure delight of
spring sunshine.
"Yes, the willow is getting green" he
murmured, 81 knew it would be; and
how pretty that field is, over back of the
factory. If only had some sweet flow
ers know should begin to get better
right eff
Tins face began to look a little less
pale, and his eyes danced with Joy at
the Thought Just then around the cor
neF came sound of merry voices and
peal of gay laughter, and Squire South
wicks big express wagon rolled into
sight, drawn by his great bays, and filled
with merry children. But it was not
quite full of children, for there was room
for numerous big baskets, and all the
children had great lunches of flowers in
their hands, while even Squire South
wick's hired man, John, had q wreath
of ground pine around his hat, and an
arbutus or two in his button-hole. The
delicious fragrance IF the flowers rose to
Tins window, together with the merry
children's voices, aud Tim leaned out en-
the window-sill and all unconsciously
stretched out his hands with an imptOr-
ing eagerness. Just then Ethel South
wick happened to look toward Tins
window, and her tender little heart was
touched with pity.
'.See, there's Tim Grover, who's been
sick so long! How pale heisl Perhaps
he'd like some flowers. too" she said,
half aloud, half to herself.
Almost before John could rein in the
powerful horses Ethel had jumped out
aud with basket of flowers stood at the
door of Tins house. To her eager little
feet il was the work of an instant to
reach Tins room. Here she paused,
thinking what she should say; but Tim
had heard her and called out very lnsti-
ly for a sick boy, "Come in.
Tim" said Ethel, here are some
flowers We've been Maying Would
you like themg'
For answer Tim took the big basket
in his weak little arms, buried his face
III the flowers and burst out crying.
Here they were-just what he had been
longing fora basket full Of sweetest
flowers-the snowy blossoms of the
blood-root, dainty lilac hepaticas, with
their dark, red lined leaves and silky
buds, and, above all, the fragrant afbu.
tus. Tim couldn't say what he wanted
10. and if his mother had not come Just
then Ethel would have wondered what
she had done to make Tim sorry. ene
ioined her merry companions, happy 70
the thought Of MFs Growers words,
am sure Tim viii be better now. and
Tim did get better, not very FAST but
steadily from that day. 1t may have
been the new life Of spring or the nour-
.ishino food Ethel brought each day, bal
lam Inclined 70 think q great part q
the credit is due to the spring flowers.
Russian Bears
A yentleman was making Inquiries
n Russia about the method Of cstchlng
b.,ors Il, fl,af rnnntrr He was told that